AUSTRALIA: As rain helps firefighters, a large blaze is still to be contained
- 00:00:24
- ITN Source
AUSTRALIA: As rain helps firefighters, a large blaze is still to be contained
Heavy rain has dampened the ground at the scene of a bushfire north-west of Bathurst in New South Wales' central west, but the blaze had not yet been contained on Friday (October 20, 2006). The Mount Rankin fire has burnt out about 700 hectares of private land, but the rain is not enough to bring it under control in heavily timbered areas. Around 100 firefighters from the Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigade and National Parks are trying to contain the fire. Strong winds earlier in the day fanned the bushfire. Winds up to 25 kilometres-an-hour are being recorded on the ground at the Mount Rankin fire. Fire authorities are on on a heightened state of alert because of the deteriorating conditions and crews are now stationed at each home to protect property. Aircraft have been attacking the hotspots since dawn but the fire remains uncontained in the accessible mountain country. Containment lines have been constructed but a southerly wind change could push the fire towards around 50 residences. Australia is currently experiencing its worse drought in 100 years and unseasonably hot temperatures have sparked a series of bad fires in Tasmania and southern Australia in recent weeks.
ITN Source | October 20, 2006
