NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter Chris Holland watches wind patterns, along the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: The Australian
A FIRE has broken containment lines in a corner of northwest NSW already ravaged by flames, boosting fears soaring temperatures could ignite a fresh wave of destruction.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the blaze was threatening some rural homes at the southern end of the Coonabarabran fire front.
"We've seen a run of fire to the south and that has resulted in the Newell Highway again being closed," he said.
"There are some rural properties in that area but we've got some fire trucks and fire crews working on those properties and of course the aircraft and other resources, heavy bulldozers and things, are dispatched to assist as well.
"That fire ran in the order of five to 10 kilometres overnight."
Mr Fitzsimmons said there had been no evacuations so far but there were concerns for the rural holdings in the area. Digital Pass $1 for first 28 Days
He said firefighters hoped to bring the blaze under control before the worst of the weather hits on Friday.
There are 84 fires burning across the state, with 14 of them uncontained.
A total fire ban is once again in place across much of NSW as a return of hot and windy conditions prompt fears existing fires could get out of control.
The 45,000-hectare blaze in the Warrumbungle National Park, west of Coonabarabran, has so far destroyed 51 properties.
"That fire just actually broke containment lines a little while ago," RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said of the blaze at Gowang, which has cut the Newell Highway.
"So we are already seeing conditions flare up already. So people obviously in those areas need to take extreme caution."
Temperatures are expected to soar in many of the worst-affected areas on Friday, with the mercury climbing into the 40s in Sydney.
"When you combine that down south with winds of up to 70km/h ... then pretty well most of NSW, with the exception of the very northeast and northwest, we are going to be looking at very, very tough conditions today," Mr Rogers has told the Seven Network.
"So we really need people to be ready to act their bush survival plan and don't assume someone else has reported a fire."
Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Coonabarabran yesterday and paid tribute to the bravery and stoicism of residents.
Other notable fires are those at Deans Gap in the Shoalhaven and Yarrabin in the Cooma-Monaro area, which have been burning continuously since threatening properties last week.
We Call Firefighters Heroes .. Arson detectives look at Vic [Australia] bushfire
By Melissa Iaria, AAP Updated March 28, 2013, 9:59 am
A bushfire guts a property near Dereel.
A fast-moving bushfire in Victoria's west that grew into a catastrophic blaze and damaged up to 10 properties may have been deliberately lit.
Arson detectives have been called in to Dereel, about 100km west of Melbourne, after the suspicious fire spread rapidly to cover about 1200 hectares, causing residents to flee for safety.
CFA district operations manager Gerry Verdoorn says less than 10 buildings are believed to have been damaged by the Dereel fire but the area is now a crime scene and residents can't be yet allowed back in.
"We're hoping as soon as possible we can let the locals back in there," he said.
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said he was committed to reducing arson incidents across the state after he was given a briefing on the bushfire.
"Arson is absolutely disgraceful behaviour, unacceptable behaviour, to put lives at risk, put properties at risk," Dr Napthine said at the scene on Thursday.
"We will leave no stone unturned to make sure we reduce the risk of arson in Victoria."
Dr Napthine is expected to tour the fire grounds later on Thursday.
The fire has burnt farmland and scrub country, most of which is private land.
At least one house, a shed and livestock have so far been confirmed lost.
The blaze started around 11.30am on Wednesday and is now contained.
But Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fire had a catastrophic code red category for 45 minutes at its peak - the state's highest fire alert.
"It was a pretty dynamic environment," Mr Lapsley told the Nine Network.
"The intensity was significant."
Four firefighters injured after their fire truck slammed into a tree in thick smoke have been released from hospital with minor burns.
Crews had spent overnight strengthening containment lines.
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