The Australian fires

Military blamed for largest NSW blaze

An investigation has revealed the biggest of the bushfires ripping through New South Wales was caused by explosive devices on a Defence Department range.

Radio NZ,

24 October, 2013

The State Mine fire, near Lithgow, has destroyed more than 47,000 hectares of the Blue Mountains and at least three homes since it began on Wednesday last week. A total fire ban was declared the next day.

At one stage the fire had a perimeter of more than 300km.

A Rural Fire Service spokesperson has confirmed that the original blaze was started on a Defence Department range, sparked by explosive devices, the ABC reports.

The Rural Fire Service investigation has been carried out with the help of police. The Defence Department has also been investigating.

The department has released a statement saying it is aware of the RFS view of the cause of the fire and is continuing to co-operate fully with NSW authorities.

The fire was merged with the nearby Mount Victoria blaze on Tuesday and hundreds of resources are committed to fight it.

Meanwhile, the Rural Fire Service is warning residents in fire-affected areas not to become complacent, after warnings for major blazes were downgraded.

Inspector Andrew Luke from the Rural Fire Service told Morning Report firefighters are still working on 64 bushfires across the state and 26 of them remain uncontained.

He says there is still a lot of hard work ahead for the firefighters, who are being helped by crews from other states and overseas.

Some residents have been allowed to return to their homes in the Blue Mountains but authorities say vigilance is still required.

Mr Luke says more strong winds are forecast for later on Thursday.

Fires and climate change - linked

The former American vice-president Al Gore says there is a proven link between climate change and bushfires.

On Wednesday Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said fire is a part of the Australian experience and not linked to climate change.

But Mr Gore, who won a Nobel peace prize for his work on the subject, says the science shows clearly that when the temperature goes up, and vegetation and soils dry out, then wildfires become more pervasive and more dangerous.

He says a price should be put on carbon, but powerful special-interest groups are preventing governments around the world from taking steps like that.

Mr Gore says it reminds him of how tobacco companies persuaded politicians for decades that there was absolutely no connection between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer.

Bushfire crisis eases in NSW

The Rural Fire Services commissioner says the bushfire crisis in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury region in New South Wales has been averted and residents can start returning home.

Radio NZ,

24 October, 2013

Strong winds and high temperatures fanning the flames throughout the day have eased on Wednesday night, but authorities warn that the situation remains dangerous and dynamic.

Fire crews protect a property in the Blue Mountains.

An emergency warning remains in place for the Gateshead fire at Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, while a number of watch-and-act alerts remain in place for the region and in the Blue Mountains, the ABC reports.

Forecasters had warned that Wednesday could be the worst day since the crisis began in the Australian state more than a week ago. Temperatures were predicted to reach the high 30s, humidity was expected to be at 10%, with wind gusts of up to 100km/h.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the firefighting operation would continue into the evening before cooler weather on Thursday.

In the Newcastle region, the Minmi fire had been downgraded to a watch-and-act alert, and the M1 Motorway was being reopened. Watch-and-act alerts are in place for the State Mine fire near Lithgow, the Mount Victoria fire, and the Hall Road fire near Wollondilly.

In the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, people had been leaving the fire zone and registering at evacuation centres earlier in the day. All schools in the area were closed to keep families together and people were told not to enter the area unless it was essential.

Crews worked through the night backburning to get a handle on several large blazes. Hundreds of firefighting reinforcements have been sent to New South Wales from other states and more than 1000 firefighters and 200 fire engines were operating in the Blue Mountains on Wednesday. Helicopters are also in heavy demand, although if the wind gets too fierce they would be grounded.

State and federal aid

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said Lithgow Workers Club and Penrith Workers Club were open for people who have nowhere else to go and state government assistance was available there.

Mr O'Farrell said the state would get through the day because of the "extraordinary efforts" of fire authorities in planning and firefighting.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced further assistance for those affected.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan says a disaster recovery allowance is now available for residents whose income has been directly hit by the disaster. More than 300 homes have been lost since 17 October.