Counting the cost

NSW fire service estimates 100 homes were lost on weekend

THE NSW Rural Fire Service is still determining the damage from bushfires that tore through NSW over the weekend, but it’s believed another 100 homes could have been lost.

RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says property losses aren’t finalised because crews are still going through areas affected by the blazes.

“I think it’ll be another 24 hours before we get an accurate number but I think it is fair to say ... it is around 100,” he said yesterday.

The areas hardest hit include Lithgow and along the Bells Line of Road in the upper Blue Mountains, and the Wollondilly Shire villages of Buxton and Bargo, which were ravaged for the second time in three days.

Mr Rogers said more than three million hectares had burnt this fire season.

“It’s an enormous amount of the landscape and forested areas,” he said.

“We shouldn’t underestimate just how much of the natural environment is being burnt and that’s got serious ecological impacts as well as the fire impact ... I think that’ll be felt for years to come.”

Earlier yesterday, NSW

Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters would take advantage of more favourable conditions expected to stick around until the end of the week.

He said they were backburning in the Blue Mountains and southwest Sydney.

“A massive amount of work right across fire grounds the length and breadth of the state will continue throughout this

Christmas-New Year period,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.

He said firefighters were “absolutely tired” but doing a remarkable job.

“Yes, they’re fatigued – physically fatigued, emotionally fatigued – but they know their communities are under threat and they’re going to do all they can, particularly over this Christmas-New Year period,” he said.