Emergency Services Battle Blazes Across New South Wales as Fire Season Starts Early

Over 400 firefighters worked to control more than 70 fires burning across New South Wales on August 20, the state’s Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) said.

Strong winds and a dry climate made conditions challenging for firefighters to control the Lindfield Park Road fire in Port Macquarie on August 19, the RFS said. The fire was burning alongside the Port Macquarie Airport at one point and had reached nearly 400 hectares as of August 20. There had been no reported damage or loss of property.

The bush fire danger period, which traditionally begins in October, kicked off early for parts of New South Wales.

NSW RFS Acting Commissioner Rob Rogers said conditions remained extremely dry, and without prospect of good rainfall, the fire danger was increasing for parts of the state. “Over the past week, we’ve seen a number of large and fast moving fires in some of these areas, and these have destroyed homes and other buildings,” Rogers said.

This footage shows firefighters battling the Lindfield Park Road fire on August 19. Credit: New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) via Storyful