Firefighters face new dangers as thunderstorms and strong southerly winds risk pushing blazes into fresh areas as 20 fires still remain uncontained across NSW.
In its latest update the NSW Royal Fire Service confirmed fires were still a “developing situation”.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington ABC Breakfast there were 76 fires burning, with 20 considered out of control.
He said the key danger for Sunday was winds that would push the fires into a different direction.
“There’s a potential for the fire to travel to the north, and we’ve crews in place to protect homes should that occur,” he said.
“That wind is now from the south; it could potentially move the fire to the north which has its own issues.”
Fire crews are prioritising active blazes before authorities can assess the full scale of destruction.
Mr Millington said while conditions had eased from Saturday’s inferno, wind and thunderstorm threats remained.
“We’ve got more moderate conditions today,” he said.
“A lot less heat, we do have strong winds and the chance of thunderstorms. Firefighters are continuing to work right across the state on all of these fires, not just in The Central Coast, but also in the upper Hunter … we’ve got a fire burning up there, quite a large fire, about 11,000 hectares.”
On Saturday the ferocious bushfire destroyed 12 homes on the Central Coast, with an extreme heatwave leading to more than 75 bushfires across the state.
This was contained to 20 throughout the night.
Locals in parts of Koolewong, between Gosford and Woy Woy, were told to leave as an apparent change in wind direction suddenly sent the blaze towards homes on Saturday afternoon.
Reports emerged of panicked locals scrambled to grab pets and valuables before racing to emergency centres or seeking refuge with friends and family.
More than 1500 firefighters and 300 vehicles were deployed statewide as temperatures soared, with Penrith climbing above 41C and extreme fire danger declared across the Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra and Central Coast.
Mr Millington told reporters the terrain around the Central Coast fires hampered firefighting efforts.
“Firefighters did a fantastic job, albeit we did lose some 12 or so homes,” he said.
“They were supported by aircraft, including the RFS Chinook helicopter, the large air tanker, they worked throughout the afternoon and right through the night to protect those homes.”
“We’ve still got a southerly change coming through and that’s where our focus continues to be.”
Both the federal Albanese and state Minns governments have declared Saturday’s bushfires as a natural disaster, allowing for government support for locals in the regions.
Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include:
•Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and essential items.
•Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living.
•Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a basic, safe and habitable condition.
•Concessional loans for small businesses and primary producers up to $130,000
•Freight and transport subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
•Loans for non-profit organisations up to $25,000
•Financial support towards counter disaster activity undertaken by emergency service organisations to keep communities safe.
“The Albanese and Minns Governments are working together to get support to communities impacted by these bushfires as quickly as possible,” federal minister for emergency management Kristy McBain said.
