Firefighters worked to contain four bushfires on the NSW Central Coast by early Wednesday (January 4), but remain concerned about a return of hot, dry conditions later this week.
A total fire ban was in place in the upper central western plains, lower central western plains, and Greater Hunter area, with temperatures expected to soar in the coming days.
Containment efforts
Monday's cool weather plus light rain helped to contain fires that burned thousands of hectares of farmland across NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia over the weekend, destroying eight homes in NSW and seven in Victoria.
NSW firefighters battling to contain the weekend's devastating fires faced very high to extreme fire danger on Tuesday January 2, as they worked on bushfires on the central coast, Junee in the state's south-west, and Weddin Mountain in the central west. However, none of the remaining fires are threatening properties.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma, Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Phil Koperberg and Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly were briefed on Tuesday at Kariong's Rural Fire Control Centre before visiting areas devastated by Sunday's fires.
Mr Koperberg said fire crews were water bombing, backburning and cutting trails around fire perimeters to help contain the blazes.
Fires raged through the area over the weekend destroying three houses and burning out 2400 hectares of bushland.
"There is little fire activity but what there is will become active during the course of today as the temperatures increase," Mr Koperberg said.
"(We are) very confident that by nightfall or perhaps tomorrow morning (Wednesday Jan 4) most of the fire around the Central Coast will be contained."
Thirty six fire units, six aircraft and a water-bombing helicopter were involved on Tuesday in surveillance and firefighting.
Five tankers have been called in from Hornsby as spot fires flare ahead of containment lines, but an RFS spokesman said the fires were still under control.
Mr Koperberg said a major fire near West Wyalong in south-west NSW could flare up in the next day or so.
He was also concerned that fire could break out in central and south-western NSW where grass, which sprung up after recent rain, had now dried out.
Assessing the damage
The ABC reports that stock losses from the now-contained fire at Junee could be as high as 20,000, with 25,000 hectares of country burned by the blaze, which started on Sunday. The sound of gunshots could be heard around the region's parched landscape on Monday as veterinarians and farmers set about the grim task of putting down injured wildlife and livestock.
Department of Primary Industries spokesman Graham Eggleston told the national broadcaster it is among the biggest stock losses from a fire he has seen.
"At this stage, approximate figures – 17,000 sheep, 84 cattle, five alpacas and two horses – so I think you can get an idea of the ferocity of the fire," he said.
Meanwhile, five water bombing aircraft have worked to control a fire in the Weddin Mountain National Park near Grenfell, which is largely inaccessible to ground crews. It is believed a lightning strike started the fire.
The NSW Farmers Association says it appreciates the swift offer of assistance to primary producers from the NSW State Government. Low interest loans and rebates will be available for recovery activities, such as transporting fodder.
"If you're in a situation where you've had three or four years that are bad, your cash flow isn't good and then you get wiped out by a fire; some places, this could put people in a really tricky situation," Association president Jock Laurie told the ABC.
Condolences
Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile has expressed sympathy for victims of bushfires raging across the country and especially for the family of Mike Rozier, 64, a volunteer who died on the NSW central coast.
Mr Vaile said every support the Federal Government could offer would be made available.
"All the emergency support and assistance that is normally made available by the commonwealth will be made available," he told ABC radio.
"We should also spare a thought and express our sympathies to those that have lost property, those (whose) loved ones have been injured and...to the family of the St John Ambulance volunteer officer that did lose his life; we certainly hold his family in our thoughts and prayers," he said.
Mr Iemma offered his condolences to bushfire victims and announced that the NSW Government would cover the funeral costs for Mr Rozier.
Mr Iemma also said police were monitoring about 30 known arsonists during the bushfire season and warned that anyone caught deliberately lighting bushfires will face up to 14 years in jail.
"It is an unfortunate part of life that we have people who will carry out...acts that endanger lives and property," Mr Iemma told reporters.
"These aren't acts of stupidity, these are criminal acts and will be met with the full force of the law."
Firefighter shortage
Regional ABC reports that the head of the South Australia Country Fire Service says a shift in community attitudes threatens to diminish smaller firefighting teams in remote parts of South Australia.
CFS chief Euan Ferguson told the ABC that many people do not have enough time to dedicate to firefighting and that volunteer numbers are falling.
"We are seeing good numbers of young volunteers but we're also seeing that those people are fully employed," he said.
"So in many areas of the state, we see that many of our volunteers aren't available for firefighting during the middle of the day, so we will actually need more volunteers in the future."
With AAP
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