By Ashley Young-
Canberra in Australia’s capital city declared a state of emergency yesterday, Friday as a fierce heatwave burnt large swathes of land across the state of New South Wales, as residents have been warned to leave
Issuing a warning to residents of the nearby towns of Michelago, Colinton and Bredbo, the New South Wales rural fire service said: “If you’re in the area, it’s too late to leave. The raging fire is currently endangering over 35,800 hectares (88,500 acres) of forests and farmland to its south, according to the territory’s emergency services agency commissioner Georgeina Whelan.
Blazes known as spot fires have been sparked by embers carried by the wind up to 10km (6 miles) away from the massive inferno, and Ms Whelan said some of those fires would eventually merge with the main
“The fire may pose a threat to lives directly in its path,” Ms Whelan told reporters, warning: “Driving is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly.” The rural fire commissioner for New South Wales, Shane Fitzsimmons, said sheds and stables across the state had been destroyed but no homes had been reported lost to wildfires on Saturday
Image:news.sky