A bushfire burning near an evacuated gas storage plant north of Newcastle is under control as strong wind gusts fan blazes across the greater Sydney area.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said 140 firefighters were working to contain the grass fire close to Old Punt Road and the industrial area around Enterprise Drive in Tomago.
Nearly 150 firefighters battled the grass fire at Tomago. (Supplied: Raymond Terrace RFS Facebook.)
The fire reached an emergency status earlier today before being downgraded to watch-and-act, and then advice level this evening.
RFS Spokesperson Greg Allan said there are a number of homes and industrial businesses in the area and with strong winds, ember attacks are a real threat.
“There is still a lot of active fire on the northern side of Tomago Road so some people may see embers still fly ahead of the fire front — that’s going to continue for some time,” Mr Allan said.
“As the conditions allow this evening, there may be an opportunity for crews to put in back-burning, which may see an increase in fire and smoke for those in the area.”
The RFS said the fire was burning in an easterly direction towards Tomago Road. (Supplied: NSW Rural Fire Service.)
Wind causes fallen trees
Wind gusts reached over 100 kilometres per hours in Camden, Nowra and rural parts of the Southern Highlands throughout the day.
The Bureau of Meteorology said damaging winds had eased around Sydney and Canberra this afternoon, but were continuing around the ranges and the Illawarra region.
Earlier, a woman suffered multiple injuries after being hit by a falling tree in Sydney’s west.
Emergency services were called to Camden about 11:30am today following reports a tree had fallen.
They found a woman aged in her 50s with multiple injuries.
Emergency crews this morning found the body of a 63-year-old woman inside a cabin in Moama, on the Victoria-New South Wales border, after a tree fell on the building.
Her husband also sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.
A tree fell onto a car at Camden, in Sydney’s south-west. (ABC News.)
At Minchinbury, a grassfire temporarily closed the M4 in both directions, while a bushfire at Yarramundi in the Hawkesbury was briefly escalated to watch-and-act level before returning to advice.
A Sydney Airport spokesperson said high winds prompted Airservices Australia to operate its east-west runway, which may cause some flight delays throughout the day.
Passengers are advised to check with their airline on the status of their flight.
Thousands without power
Firefighters battled to contain a blaze that closed the Princes Highway between Sydney and Wollongong. (ABC News)
Powerlines are believed to have sparked a bushfire south of Wollongong that firefighters say they now have under control.
RFS Superintendent Martin Surry has praised crews at Maddens Plains for controlling the fire that had closed the Princes Highway around the middle of the day.
Superintendent Surry said it was a remarkable result.
“One of the large helicopters braved the winds … was safely able to use a water bucket and slow the fire down so our crews on the ground could get around it,” he said.
One southbound lane is now open as crews continue to battle challenging conditions with wind speeds reaching up to 80 kilometres per hour.
A major effort is underway to try to contain a blaze near Thirroul, north of Wollongong. (ABC News)
The south-westerly winds, however, are not expected to impact the fire’s behaviour later this afternoon.
Drivers are advised that there is no smoke across the road, but to remain vigilant and adhere to the reduced speed limits as firefighting operations continue.
A total fire ban has been declared in the Sydney, Illawarra, and Shoalhaven regions today with warm, strong winds driving up the fire danger warnings.
Endeavour Energy said south-westerly winds had caused significant impact around the northern part of the Southern Highlands, including about 1,700 people at Bundanoon.
Other parts of the Illawarra impacted include Helensburgh, Russell Vale, Albion Park, Berry and Nowra.
