This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
December 19, 2019
Extreme heat and drought have sparked a devastating bushfire season in Australia, with a state of emergency declared in New South Wales.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian attributed the declaration to 'catastrophic weather conditions', as the country experienced its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 40.9 degrees Celsius nationwide.
Central Sydney is expected to peak at 41 degrees Celsius, while western suburbs may reach 45 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with turbulent winds forecast to fan the flames.
'Strike teams' on standby ¶
2,000 firefighters, supported by US and Canadian teams, as well as Australia Defence Force personnel, are battling the blazes, with five 100-person 'strike teams' on standby to deploy to the most dangerous fires.
NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of extreme fire danger ratings centred around the greater Sydney environment.
The smoke haze has been labelled a 'public health emergency' by leading doctors, with hospitals recording large increases in emergency room visits for respiratory problems.
More than 70 fires are raging across Queensland state, with at least three million hectares of land torched across Australia in recent months, resulting in six deaths and over 800 homes destroyed.
