Australian firefighters race to contain wildfires
- 11 years ago
Thousands of firefighters and hundreds of fire engines battle massive wildfires in mountains west of Sydney.
More than 200 homes in the Australian state of New South Wales have been destroyed, communities scattered and entire streets razed by fires tearing through farm and bush land on the outskirts of the city.
The fires have burned through more than 120,000 hectares.
Around 60 are still burning.
Animals and livestock have been moved to safer areas.
While exhausted fire fighters take brief breaks after long hours of trying to contain the flames.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW SOUTH WALES RURAL FIRE SERVICE COMMISSIONER, SHANE FITZSIMMONS, SAYING:
"Already the winds are problematic enough through the Blue Mountains. We've already experienced, associated with this storm cell, 70 kilometre (43 miles) gust of winds, and a little higher. That's about to come across towards the fire ground. That will present challenges in terms of the weather systems, er
More than 200 homes in the Australian state of New South Wales have been destroyed, communities scattered and entire streets razed by fires tearing through farm and bush land on the outskirts of the city.
The fires have burned through more than 120,000 hectares.
Around 60 are still burning.
Animals and livestock have been moved to safer areas.
While exhausted fire fighters take brief breaks after long hours of trying to contain the flames.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW SOUTH WALES RURAL FIRE SERVICE COMMISSIONER, SHANE FITZSIMMONS, SAYING:
"Already the winds are problematic enough through the Blue Mountains. We've already experienced, associated with this storm cell, 70 kilometre (43 miles) gust of winds, and a little higher. That's about to come across towards the fire ground. That will present challenges in terms of the weather systems, er