Saturday, September 28, 2013 7:51:27 PM
Fire conditions set to ease in NSW
Updated: 08:42, Sunday September 29, 2013
There's good news for fire crews with weather conditions set to ease across New South Wales today.
It comes after 60 fires burned across the state -20 of which remain uncontained.
In Sydney's northern beaches, firefighters worked through the night monitoring a blaze at Barrenjoey Headland - allowing the fire to burn through bushland to the waters edge.
----- .. insert ..
Bushfire on Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach had cut off access to the lighthouse. Photo: James Brickwood
EIGHTY firefighters and three helicopters worked to contain a fire across the Barrenjoey Headland that threatened the 1800s lighthouse at Palm Beach.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lighthouse-saved-as-barrenjoey-fire-continues-20130928-2ul53.html
----- .. end insert ..
The firefighters also managed to save an iconic Sydney lighthouse from one of many bushfires flared by hot and windy weather conditions across the state.
An emergency alert was initially issued and headland visitors were advised to seek shelter near the lighthouse after access to a walking trail was cut off.
About 80 firefighters and three aircraft were brought in to battle the fire.
The lighthouse was saved but a nearby lighthouse cottage sustained some roof damage.
The Rural Fire Service downgraded the fire to a watch and act warning after 4pm.
RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd said 60 per cent of the Barrenjoey Headland around the lighthouse had been burnt.
Eyewitness Scott Carpenter said the fire looked like 'an inferno' and was engulfing the headland.
'I'm watching in horror,' he told AAP via phone.
'The whole east side of the headland is in flames ... it's spreading very quickly.'
The strong winds and hot temperatures have kept firefighters busy with 60 fires, including 20 uncontained, burning across NSW.
Mr Shepherd said a fire at Port Stephens, near Italia Road, East Seaham, initially threatened homes but crews managed to save them.
Containment lines have been established around parts of the fire, Mr Shepherd confirmed.
A bushfire that started on Thursday has continued to burn in the Shallow Bay area in the Great Lakes.
The fire is contained, Mr Shepherd said.
Another bushfire that started on Thursday south of Taree is also under control. Mr Shepherd said while there were no total fire bans in place for Sunday, the main concern was the lack of rain.
'Until such time we get significant rain, we maintain the problem of any warm and windy days we have increasing fire risks and the possibility of fire bans.'
http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=910324
~~~~~
Snakes alive earlier after warmest winter on record in Sydney
MALCOLM HOLLAND Environment Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
September 29, 2013 12:00AM
Sydney professional snake catcher Sean Cade, from St Clair, with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill. Source: News Limited
THE warmest winter on record and a strikingly hot start to spring has caused the state’s snakes to emerge early from their hibernation.
A professional snake catching company is already receiving two to three calls each day to remove the reptiles from Sydney properties.
The NSW Ambulance Service and Taronga Zoo have also warned the warmer weather — temperatures in Sydney were eight to 12C above average for most of last week — has created increased activity.
Sydney professional snake catcher Sean Cade with an Eastern Brown, rated the second most venomous snake in the world, that he found near Bunnings at Minchinbury. Source: News Limited
Even before summer has started, ambulance officers were called to 22 snake bite incidents between July 21 and September 22 this year during a winter in NSW when average daytime termeperaures were 2.5C above average and night time temperatures 1.6C warmer than average.
The youngest victim was a 16-month-old boy who was lucky to survive being bitten by an eastern brown snake at his home at Myall Creek in northern NSW on August 8.
The oldest snake victim was an 81-year-old man bitten on the ankle at the small village of Ashford near Inverell.
Eastern Brown snakes — the second most venomous snake on earth — and red bellied black snakes have been the most common snakes frightened homeowners have called the Sydney Snake Catcher company to remove over the past few weeks.
“We are getting two to three calls a day to remove snakes,’’ Snake Catcher Sydney’s Michelle Fry said. “That’s more than we normally get at this time of year. The very warm weather has got them out and about a bit earlier than usual.’’
Sean Cade with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill.
Sean Cade with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill. Source: News Limited
One of the company’s snake catchers, Sean Cade, said most people were bitten by snakes while trying to remove them, or kill them.
“It’s much better you call a professional to remove the snake and release it in a safe location,’’ Mr Cade, who, ahead of the summer main danger time, this week taught the workers of an energy company about how to deal with the snakes they encounter while repairing powerlines, said.
“Certainly this weather has got them active, they are looking for food and a mate after their winter slowdown,’’ he said.
“We’ve had the majority of our calls from western Sydney homes — there’s still lots of bush, and homes with decent yards, there.’’
Snake experts at Taronga Zoo have also noticed the reptiles have been active early this year.
“At Sydney’s latitude any day above 18C sees snakes and lizards active and we’ve had those temperatures for more than six weeks already,’’ a zoo spokesman said.
“The whole bush seems to have awoken early this year — one of our staff heard cicadas a few days ago and he’s never heard cicadas before November in Sydney.’’
The ambulance service said spiders were also becoming active, with paramedics called to 66 spider bites between July 1 and September 22 this year.
They were called to the this season’s first funnel web bite on September 12 and have treated the victims of six funnel web bites so far.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/snakes-alive-earlier-after-warmest-winter-on-record-in-sydney/story-fnii5s41-1226729071890
~~~~~~
NSW in winter 2013: Second-warmest winter on record
Second-warmest winter on record.
Wettest June since 2005; dry July and August.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/nsw/summary.shtml
~~~~~~ .. in the UK ..
Cooler weekend ahead as temperatures drop below 30C for the first time in a week... but the scorching weather will be back with 35C highs by Wednesday
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2371317/Cooler-weekend-ahead-temperatures-drop-30C-time-week--scorching-weather-35C-highs-Wednesday.html
Updated: 08:42, Sunday September 29, 2013
There's good news for fire crews with weather conditions set to ease across New South Wales today.
It comes after 60 fires burned across the state -20 of which remain uncontained.
In Sydney's northern beaches, firefighters worked through the night monitoring a blaze at Barrenjoey Headland - allowing the fire to burn through bushland to the waters edge.
----- .. insert ..
Bushfire on Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach had cut off access to the lighthouse. Photo: James Brickwood
EIGHTY firefighters and three helicopters worked to contain a fire across the Barrenjoey Headland that threatened the 1800s lighthouse at Palm Beach.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lighthouse-saved-as-barrenjoey-fire-continues-20130928-2ul53.html
----- .. end insert ..
The firefighters also managed to save an iconic Sydney lighthouse from one of many bushfires flared by hot and windy weather conditions across the state.
An emergency alert was initially issued and headland visitors were advised to seek shelter near the lighthouse after access to a walking trail was cut off.
About 80 firefighters and three aircraft were brought in to battle the fire.
The lighthouse was saved but a nearby lighthouse cottage sustained some roof damage.
The Rural Fire Service downgraded the fire to a watch and act warning after 4pm.
RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd said 60 per cent of the Barrenjoey Headland around the lighthouse had been burnt.
Eyewitness Scott Carpenter said the fire looked like 'an inferno' and was engulfing the headland.
'I'm watching in horror,' he told AAP via phone.
'The whole east side of the headland is in flames ... it's spreading very quickly.'
The strong winds and hot temperatures have kept firefighters busy with 60 fires, including 20 uncontained, burning across NSW.
Mr Shepherd said a fire at Port Stephens, near Italia Road, East Seaham, initially threatened homes but crews managed to save them.
Containment lines have been established around parts of the fire, Mr Shepherd confirmed.
A bushfire that started on Thursday has continued to burn in the Shallow Bay area in the Great Lakes.
The fire is contained, Mr Shepherd said.
Another bushfire that started on Thursday south of Taree is also under control. Mr Shepherd said while there were no total fire bans in place for Sunday, the main concern was the lack of rain.
'Until such time we get significant rain, we maintain the problem of any warm and windy days we have increasing fire risks and the possibility of fire bans.'
http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=910324
~~~~~
Snakes alive earlier after warmest winter on record in Sydney
MALCOLM HOLLAND Environment Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
September 29, 2013 12:00AM
Sydney professional snake catcher Sean Cade, from St Clair, with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill. Source: News Limited
THE warmest winter on record and a strikingly hot start to spring has caused the state’s snakes to emerge early from their hibernation.
A professional snake catching company is already receiving two to three calls each day to remove the reptiles from Sydney properties.
The NSW Ambulance Service and Taronga Zoo have also warned the warmer weather — temperatures in Sydney were eight to 12C above average for most of last week — has created increased activity.
Sydney professional snake catcher Sean Cade with an Eastern Brown, rated the second most venomous snake in the world, that he found near Bunnings at Minchinbury. Source: News Limited
Even before summer has started, ambulance officers were called to 22 snake bite incidents between July 21 and September 22 this year during a winter in NSW when average daytime termeperaures were 2.5C above average and night time temperatures 1.6C warmer than average.
The youngest victim was a 16-month-old boy who was lucky to survive being bitten by an eastern brown snake at his home at Myall Creek in northern NSW on August 8.
The oldest snake victim was an 81-year-old man bitten on the ankle at the small village of Ashford near Inverell.
Eastern Brown snakes — the second most venomous snake on earth — and red bellied black snakes have been the most common snakes frightened homeowners have called the Sydney Snake Catcher company to remove over the past few weeks.
“We are getting two to three calls a day to remove snakes,’’ Snake Catcher Sydney’s Michelle Fry said. “That’s more than we normally get at this time of year. The very warm weather has got them out and about a bit earlier than usual.’’
Sean Cade with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill.
Sean Cade with a Red Bellied Black snake that he retrieved from a pizza oven at Quakers Hill. Source: News Limited
One of the company’s snake catchers, Sean Cade, said most people were bitten by snakes while trying to remove them, or kill them.
“It’s much better you call a professional to remove the snake and release it in a safe location,’’ Mr Cade, who, ahead of the summer main danger time, this week taught the workers of an energy company about how to deal with the snakes they encounter while repairing powerlines, said.
“Certainly this weather has got them active, they are looking for food and a mate after their winter slowdown,’’ he said.
“We’ve had the majority of our calls from western Sydney homes — there’s still lots of bush, and homes with decent yards, there.’’
Snake experts at Taronga Zoo have also noticed the reptiles have been active early this year.
“At Sydney’s latitude any day above 18C sees snakes and lizards active and we’ve had those temperatures for more than six weeks already,’’ a zoo spokesman said.
“The whole bush seems to have awoken early this year — one of our staff heard cicadas a few days ago and he’s never heard cicadas before November in Sydney.’’
The ambulance service said spiders were also becoming active, with paramedics called to 66 spider bites between July 1 and September 22 this year.
They were called to the this season’s first funnel web bite on September 12 and have treated the victims of six funnel web bites so far.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/snakes-alive-earlier-after-warmest-winter-on-record-in-sydney/story-fnii5s41-1226729071890
~~~~~~
NSW in winter 2013: Second-warmest winter on record
Second-warmest winter on record.
Wettest June since 2005; dry July and August.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/nsw/summary.shtml
~~~~~~ .. in the UK ..
Cooler weekend ahead as temperatures drop below 30C for the first time in a week... but the scorching weather will be back with 35C highs by Wednesday
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2371317/Cooler-weekend-ahead-temperatures-drop-30C-time-week--scorching-weather-35C-highs-Wednesday.html
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