Bush fires threaten hundreds of homes

At least 30 bush fires broke out around Sydney today, closing roads and railway lines, and threatening hundreds of homes.

“We’ve got major problems all over Sydney,” said Phil Koperberg, commissioner of New South Wales Rural Fire Service. “It is far from being under control and not likely to come under any form of control until later this afternoon.”

At least one house was burned down in the suburb of Wattle Grove, about 15 miles west of downtown Sydney, a man identified only as Steve told Sydney radio station 2GB in a telephone interview from the scene.

Two thick plumes of white smoke – one to the north and one to the south - could be seen from central Sydney.

The worst of the fires were at Maroota, about 30 miles north of central Sydney and at the Holsworthy Army Barracks, in the city’s south west.

“Possibly 250 homes and a caravan park could come under threat,” fire service spokesman Cameron Wade said.

Another fire was burning in Lucas Heights, close to Sydney’s nuclear reactor, which makes radioactive material for the medical industry.

There were no immediate reports of injuries anywhere in Sydney. Further details were not immediately available.

Temperatures in western Sydney reached 36C (97F) and a hot, dry wind swept over the city.

Anticipating the conditions, fire services declared a total fire ban throughout New South Wales state for today. It was not immediately clear how the fires started.

A year ago, bush fires ringed Sydney over the Christmas period, destroying dozens of homes.