Bushfire Rages Near Homes After Properties Lost in Backburning Flare-up in New South Wales
An emergency warning was issued for an out-of-control bushfire threatening homes in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, on December 16.
The more-than 378,000 hectare Gospers Mountain bushfire was travelling quickly toward the Wolgan Valley area with residents urged to take cover as it was “too late to leave”.
“Protect yourself from the heat of the fire,” an alert from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said.
This footage, taken by a local fire brigade, shows the out-of-control Gospers Mountain blaze burning in the Wolgan Valley during the 48 hours leading up to December 16. Other footage is said to show the smaller Ruined Castle fire burning in the Megalong Valley. The Ruined Castle fire was “being controlled”.
On December 15, a backburning operation on the Gospers Mountain bushfire breached containment lines and destroyed a number of properties in the areas of Bilpin, Mount Tomah and Mount Wilson, authorities told media.
The extent of the damage couldn’t be confirmed for several days until firefighters could safely carry out assessments, media citing authorities said. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSW Station 082 Richmond via Storyful
