Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Firies controlling Blue Mountains bushfire

Waterbombers were called in to help contain a bushfire burning in the NSW Blue Mountains near Glenbrook.

A NSW Rural Service firetruck
Firefighters are hoping for a cool change after battling a bushfire overnight in the Hunter Valley. (AAP)

Firefighters, aided by waterbombing aircraft, are gaining control of a bushfire which flared up in the NSW Blue Mountains near Glenbrook.

The NSW Rural Fire Service issued a watch-and-act alert in the Mitchells Pass area on Thursday afternoon.

Land crews and an air tanker managed to slow the spread of the fire, which continues to burn aided by northeasterly winds in hilly terrain.

The alert was downgraded to "advice" level at 3pm as firefighters began to gain control.

Farther north, more than 8000 hectares in the Wollemi National Park and Putty State Forest were scorched by a bushfire that could take crews weeks to extinguish.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The Rural Fire Service downgraded the emergency warning on Thursday after severe fire conditions saw the blaze flare out of control.

"I don't think we're out of the woods as far as the fire risk for that particular fire," RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers told the ABC from RFS headquarters on Thursday.

Total fire bans are in place in five regions of NSW including Illawarra/Shoalhaven, the Southern Ranges, the Central Ranges, North Western and the Northern Slopes.

Mr Rogers said northwest NSW faces a severe fire danger threat.

"We're expecting gusty winds as the change moves up the coast and those winds that were in Victoria move through NSW," he said.

"So we're in for another long day and a lot more firefighting."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world