NSW: 15,000 firefighters brace for weekend inferno

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2001
NSW: 15,000 firefighters brace for weekend inferno

By Linda Silmalis

SYDNEY, Dec 28 AAP - More than 15,000 firefighters from across Australia will launch
a major assault on NSW bushfires ahead of an expected horror weekend of high winds and
soaring temperatures.

Crews from South Australia and Queensland will join NSW and Victorian firefighters
tomorrow, boosting numbers in the largest deployment of crews since the outbreak.

The united assault comes as authorities decide the fate of three teenagers who allegedly
started fires south of Sydney.

Two adults, including one in the ACT, have already faced court on arson charges.

Weather conditions began to deteriorate today after a night of "varying success" in
attempts to control some 100 bushfires still burning across the state.

A thick pall of smoke enveloping Sydney played havoc with aerial firefighting operations,
forcing crews to resort to infra-red satellite technology.

"It's very hard to tell exactly where the fire is because of the enormous amount of
smoke," said Rural Fire Services spokesman John Winter.

As the crisis approached its fifth day, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg
urged residents near active bushfires to be prepared.

While the loss of property remained at around 150 homes, the greatest challenge was
yet to come with some 600 kilometres of fire burning outside of containment lines, he
said.

"The vast majority of fires remain unchecked (with) very little prospect of controlling
in the immediate future," Mr Koperberg told reporters.

"I do urge a very high level of calm over the next four to five days."

Mr Koperberg said temperatures were expected to reach almost 40 degrees on Sunday before
a southerly "buster" swept in.

Around 100 tankers and 500 firefighters from Victoria, Queensland and South Australia
were expected in NSW over the weekend.

Victorian crews have been battling the NSW fires for days now, with the first tankers
and firefighters crossing the border on Christmas night, followed by a further 140 on
Boxing Day.

As well as fighting the fires at ground level, a further 55 air crews were involved
in waterbombing and reconnaissance.

The NSW government has also requested Victorian authorities to loan one of their most
specialised firefighting aircraft for the weekend blitz.

The Erickson sky crane has the capacity to dump more than 9,000 litres (nine tonnes)
of water from the air.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Bob Debus said despite the property losses, more than
11,000 homes which had been directly exposed to fires had been saved.

But the next few days would post the greatest test, he said.

Fires and backburning forced the evacuation of 400 scouts from a camping ground at
Cataract Dam, on Appin Road, between Wollongong and Campbelltown, south east of Sydney.

The trouble spots today continued to be the lower Blue Mountains and areas of the Sutherland
shire with the fire expected to threaten townships if conditions deteriorated.

Meanwhile three teenagers allegedly caught lighting fires near Wollongong have been
recommended for youth conferencing. Their case will be reviewed by the Department of Juvenile
Justice.

Mr Debus told reporters: "The decision about what should be done with 15-year-olds
in this particular case under our legislation is one for police to take in consultation
with the Department of Juvenile Justice".

There are reports they may be charged.

Commander John Laycock, head of the new police arson strikeforce set up in the wake
of the fires, stressed again today all suspects would face the full weight of the law.

The comments followed the emergence of further cases of suspected arson.

A 20-year-old man is to face charges in relation to a fire near a railway line in Sydney's
west yesterday while a motorist in Canberra made a citizen's arrest today after claiming
to have seen a teenager lighting a fire less than a kilometre from Parliament House.

NSW Premier Bob Carr will return to Sydney tomorrow after cutting short his holiday
in China to attend to the bushfire crisis.

NSW Agriculture has warned of large numbers of wildlife fleeing to safety into residential
areas and Sydney residents have been urged to use water sparingly after firefighters experience
water pressure difficulties.

Insurers report more than 400 insurance claims have been lodged for fire damaged homes
and property since Christmas Day with the bill to exceed $20 million.

AAP las/arb/gmw

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW NIGHTLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.