Wild fire smoke chokes Sydney
SYDNEY was shrouded in smoke yesterday as wild bushfires continued to rage across the Australian state of New South Wales.
The city’s famous skyline barely visible .
Shane Fitzsimmons, rural fire commissioner of New SouthWales, said firefighters were now facing huge challenges with at least 48 blazes across the state.
Strong winds overnight blew the smoke from inland fires towards the coast, pushing the air quality in Australia’s largest city to beyond hazardous levels.
Anxious
was
Worried locals took to social media describing dark, hazy skies and the stench of smoke in their homes.
So far six people have died in bushfires in the state since last month.
The source of the smoke is a blaze in Wollemi National Park, 93 miles north-west of Sydney, which has now grown to 150,000 hectares.
Increasingly anxious authorities issued warnings about severe fire danger, as temperatures soared to 98.6F (37C) in the city’s western districts. And parts of the city recorded air pollution levels at eight times higher than the national benchmark.
Health officials advised people to stay indoors and avoid physical activity.
They also shared first aid guides on how to help asthma sufferers and others who suffer from respiratory problems.
A spokesman for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said: “The
smoke is likely to hang around for the next few days.”
Richard Broom, director of environmental health at NSW Health, said: “We know that heatwaves cause severe illness, hospital admission and even deaths, and that people are more sensitive to heatwaves early in the season.
“The combination of heat and poor air quality adds to the risk.”
Firefighters tackle a raging bushfire while a helicopter drops water, inset top, as Sydney was shrouded in smoke
Authorities said 468 homes have been destroyed since blazes flared up again last week.
The latest victims were named as Vivian Chaplain, 69, Julie Fletcher, 63, Barry Parsons, 58, and George Nole, whose age is unknown. They were found in separate rural locations. Last month couple Bob Lindsey, 77, and Gwen Hyde, 68, were also killed.
Many of the affected areas have experienced thick smoke and extremely poor air quality for weeks.
But it is not only New South Wales combating the blazes.
Elsewhere a fire danger warning has also been issued for parts of South Australia.
And adding to the problems, the state capital, Adelaide, is today expected to reach temperatures of 107F (42C).