Interstate help for NSW fire crisis

NSW Fire and Rescue is sending up to 170 tankers with almost 800 officers to the Blue Mountains bushfires while interstate crews man metro areas.

Metropolitan firefighters from interstate will back up hundreds of NSW colleagues who are heading out to help rural crews in the bushfire emergency.

Up to 170 NSW Fire and Rescue tankers and engines with almost 800 officers are being sent to fire-ravaged communities in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.

Ten crews from Queensland and 10 from Melbourne will arrive in Sydney on Wednesday to man metropolitan posts.

It's one of the largest mobilisations in the history of Fire and Rescue NSW, Commissioner Greg Mullins said.

He said the fire threat in the Blue Mountains was unparalleled and warranted the "unprecedented number" of resources.

Firefighters are battling to get on top of the Blue Mountains fires ahead of worsening conditions on Wednesday.

The 1994 bushfires and 1997 Sydney hailstorm are the only other incidents that required such widespread mobilisation.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

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

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world