24 hours to evacuate: Aussie troops move in to assist families fleeing bushfires
Residents are struggling on the South Coast of NSW a there’s no fuel, no food and no power. This is due to bushfires ravaging the area and the Australian Defence Force has been called in to help the affected areas.
A fleet of ships and helicopters are making their way to coastal regions to supply and rescue residents that are trapped by the flames.
There are currently 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained, according to the NSW RFS.
At 5.30am there are 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained.
Firefighters will make the most of more favourable conditions today to protect properties before deteriorating conditions again this Saturday.#NSWRFS #NSWFires pic.twitter.com/vb3o55n8XU— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) 1 January 2020
With around 50,000 homes without power, major phone networks being down, and supermarkets closed, residents are struggling to obtain essentials such as food, fuel and water.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says that there will be a “huge effort” to get as many people out of the area before Saturday, as conditions are set to worsen.
"It's an extreme challenge for firefighters," he said on Sky News.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers agrees.
“There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday (Tuesday),” he told reporters in Sydney.
“Crews are working hard to get some containment before Saturday but we are concerned about that fire because of its potential run into far western Sydney,” Mr Rogers said.
With at least 1298 homes destroyed across the state and air quality continuing to worsen in the affected areas, firefighters are run ragged trying to stop NSW from burning.
Thousands are fleeing the South Coast, with almost 30 road closures in the region. Live Traffic NSW has issued a warning for heavy traffic conditions as well as significant delays.