Relief in burning state as rain hits
RAIN has brought relief to fire zones across NSW but created its own set of troubles with flash flooding reported in many areas.
The showers even led to the evacuation of animals from a renowned animal park.
The good news for firefighters and drought-hit areas is that the rain is expected to continue into next week.
NSW SES assistant commissioner Paul Bailey said yesterday there had been 323 callouts from Thursday overnight, including some for surface flooding in Parkes and Dubbo in the state’s central west.
“We’ve repositioned some of our teams, our swift water teams, to ensure that the flash flooding that’s been spoken of will be managed correctly,” Mr Bailey said. Mr Bailey said fireaffected areas may see an increase in tree falls due to weakened soil, debris flowing into creeks and flash flooding due to a lack of vegetation.
“We do ask people to be vigilant but not terribly alarmed about that and, as has been said, this rain is welcomed in those areas so we are expecting there to be only a few issues regarding this rain going forward,” he said.
Bureau of Meteorology acting state manager Grahame Reader told reporters widespread showers and thunderstorms across the state will continue into next week.
Boonanghi in the state’s mid-north recorded its highest rainfall since March 2017 with 126mm and Bundarra in the
Northern Tablelands received 105mm, its best since November 2011.
Mr Reader said heavy rainfall will continue today and but ease tomorrow. “We’d be looking at cumulative rainfall, in addition to what we’ve had today until Sunday, of around 30 to 80mm,” he said.
The NSW Rural Fire Service welcomed the rain on large firegrounds but warned it wasn’t the end of the bushfire crisis. “It won’t put all these fires out but certainly it’s slowed them right down and I think it’s given a significant morale boost,” RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told the Seven Network yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon there were 79 NSW bushfires burning – down from 88 on Wednesday evening – with about 30 still out of control.
Meanwhile, animals have been relocated as torrential rain caused flash-flooding at a wildlife park on the NSW Central Coast.
The Australian Reptile Park closed yesterday because of the flooding, with staff working to protect animals and sandbag doorways.
IT WON’T PUT ALL THESE FIRES OUT BUT CERTAINLY IT’S SLOWED THEM RIGHT DOWN AND GIVEN A MORALE BOOST.
ROB ROGERS