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Uh Oh yay lots of traffic xD. poor bush fired people.
Bushfire cuts off Newell Highway
Monday Dec 4 21:41 AEDT
A major bushfire burning in the NSW central west has closed more than 100 kilometres of one of Australia's major arterial roads.
The fire, burning in the Pilliga Nature Reserve, 350km north-west of Sydney, has forced authorities to close a 118km stretch of the Newell Highway, between Narrabri and Coonabarabran.
Traffic in both directions is being redirected via Gunnedah.
Meanwhile, wildlife rescuers remain on standby to provide veterinary care amid fears the fire has decimated one of the nation's most important koala colonies.
Wildlife rescuers hope that on Tuesday they will be able to enter the fire ground, home to one of Australia's most genetically diverse koala populations, possibly numbering in the thousands.
Taronga Zoo spokesman Mark Williams said an animal rescue team had been waiting in nearby Coonabarabran since Saturday, hoping for a safe opportunity to go into the area.
"We are hoping to pick up animals on the fringe of the fire line," Mr Williams said.
"But, not surprisingly, there have not been many sightings.
"Sadly, the intense heat of bushfires claims animals like koalas and reptiles.
"But we want to be on-site in case we can provide immediate veterinary care."
The fire in the Pilliga Reserve is one of a number in central west NSW continuing to burn after blackening tens of thousands of hectares.
Fire crews from the ACT, Queensland and NSW Rural Fire Service continue to fight the blazes.
Four large fires continue to burn near Mudgee, in central NSW, the largest of which is burning about 20km south-east of the township in the Wallaby Rocks area.
Almost 100 firefighters from Victoria and elsewhere in NSW are helping local crews fight the Mudgee fires.
West of Sydney, firefighters contained a bushfire burning in the Blue Mountains, which had threatened property.
 clarity dade · Mon Dec 04, 2006 @ 04:02pm · 0 Comments |
