Disaster declared as NSW firefighters continue to battle 20 uncontained bushfires | Australia weather

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned of a “tough” summer bushfire season ahead as parts of New South Wales were declared a natural disaster and crews battling more than 70 fires braced for adverse winds on Sunday.

The most devastating fire, an out-of-control bushfire at Koolewong, not far from the Central Coast’s residential areas, destroyed more than 12 homes on Saturday.

Four more homes were lost in Bulahdelah on the north coast.

20 of the active fires could not be brought under control. A cool change is expected to arrive from Sunday morning, but forecasters have warned that where fires grow out of control it could create adverse conditions, including strong winds and possible lightning strikes.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Ben Millington, deputy commissioner of the Rural Fire Service.

“The shift to the south is still ongoing and that remains our focus.”

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The natural disaster declaration activates support measures for residents, businesses, primary producers and municipalities. People whose homes have been damaged may be eligible for emergency financial assistance as well as cleanup, reconstruction and recovery assistance.

The NSW government’s natural disaster declaration applies to the following LGAs:

• Central Coast

• Central Coast

• Top Hunter

• muswellbrook

• Warrumbungle

• dubo

Support was provided under joint state-state Disaster Recovery Financing Arrangements (DRFA).

Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said strong winds were expected to last for several hours on Sunday, but would be followed by cooler conditions and more humidity.

On Sunday morning, authorities issued an emergency warning for an out-of-control bushfire in Redhead, south of Newcastle. Residents were told it was too late to leave and requested asylum. The warning was later downgraded.

Speaking on ABC Insiders shortly after visiting Emergency Management Australia headquarters on Sunday morning, Albanese said it was fortunate there had been no casualties, which was “always a priority”.

“So this summer, like all the summers that have come along lately, will of course be a difficult summer,” he said.

“But there are a number of prerequisites if you want New South Wales to be a particularly difficult place.”

NSW premier Chris Minns said the Koolewong fire on the Central Coast would have damaged more homes had it not been for the work of firefighters.

“Just to put it in perspective, the fire embers were splashing across a kilometer of water,” he told ABC TV.

Damage assessment teams were on site on Sunday alongside investigators from NSW Police and the RFS to determine the cause of the fire.

Federal and state disaster relief funding has been activated for the Central Coast, Mid Coast, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Warrumbungle and Dubbo.

The declarations activate support measures for residents, businesses, primary producers and councils.

“As we continue to contain the fires affecting communities across NSW, our priority is also to support people whose homes and livelihoods have been affected,” said NSW recovery minister Janelle Saffin.

Temperatures are expected to ease across much of NSW and southern Australia from Sunday, but will rise across northern Australia and WA. Hot conditions will return in most of the country at the beginning of the week.

Several bushfires are also burning elsewhere in Tasmania.

More than a dozen houses, sheds, outbuildings and cars were damaged and two firefighters injured when a fire broke out of control at Dolphin Sands on Tasmania’s east coast on Friday.

The fire has since been brought under control, but access to the area is dangerous so it is unsafe for residents to return.