NSW bushfire state of emergency over

The NSW bushfire emergency status has been lifted, with Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons thanking the community for its cooperation.

Bushfire_131021_AAP.JPG

Bushfires tore across NSW in October, and remained active due to warm conditions and strong winds. Hundreds of properties were destroyed and two people killed.

The NSW bushfire emergency is officially over two weeks after it started.

A state of emergency was declared on October 20 and gave emergency services the power to make decisions on the community's behalf.

It was revoked on Friday.

In a statement, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons thanked the community for its cooperation during the emergency period.

More than 200 homes across the state were destroyed in the fires resulting in $156 million worth of insurance claims for damages to homes and businesses.

The Insurance Council estimates assessors have visited 95 per cent of the properties where claims have been made.

Insurance companies are paying out more than $2 million a day for repairs.

Spokesman Campbell Fuller says insurers have been able to respond to more than 1200 claims coming from fires that were still burning only days ago.

He says although insurers have been quick to respond to claims, the process of rebuilding will take time and customers should raise all concerns with their insurance provider.

Insurance providers say some claims will take many months to be closed.


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