120 45-degree fires: the ring of fire around Sydney is tightening

The intense heat, dryness and winds are burning the huge fires raging across Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been heavily criticized online, announced that he would return from his family vacation in Hawaii following the deaths of two firefighters. Residents: "Today is not the day to start your holiday"

An emergency was announced Saturday in the Sydney area following two major fires that threaten the city, while exceptional weather conditions continue to fuel the wildfires raging across New South Wales, Australia. In the southern state, one person was found without a living in the fire areas.

A day after the hottest day recorded in the country's history, thick smoke enveloped the city of Sydney, enveloping the Opera House and stopping many activities. "The fire front has spread rapidly and with great intensity," said New South Wales Fire Service Commissioner Shane Pichesimmons. "It's a very difficult and dangerous set of circumstances."

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Helicopter flies over fires in the Bilpin area near Sydney City (Photo: Reuters)

A helicopter flies over fires in the Bilpin area near Sydney City, Australia on December 19, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Authorities said nearly 120 fires remained on fire late afternoon, with more than half being uncontrolled, and with temperatures expected to reach 45 degrees C in some areas, authorities warned residents to be on high alert.

Some of the main roads exiting Sydney to the south and west have been closed, and authorities have asked people to delay their Christmas holidays, warning that the spread of fires cannot be expected due to the high winds and heavy heat. A New South Wales police statement told residents that "today is not the day to start your holiday." Late in the afternoon, six fire-related fires raged across Australia, including two around Sydney.

40.9 degrees: Australia has experienced the hottest day in its history

Emergency forces protect homes and farm animals from southwestern Sydney fires (Photo: Reuters)

Emergency forces protect homes and livestock from fires in southwestern Sydney Australia on December 19, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Fire Commissioner Pitchesimmons said "this day was terrible." He described the conditions in the area as "catastrophic" and announced that the level of danger was estimated to be highest. "We saw a lot of property being burned and lost. We have 3,000 firefighters and emergency services personnel extinguishing the fires," Pitchsimmons said at a news conference. He added: "We will not overcome these fires until we get some rain. We said this weeks and months ago." However, forecasters do not expect significant rainfall over the next few months.

During the firefight, two firefighters who volunteered to assist in the firefighting operation were killed and another 23 firefighters injured. With the deaths of firefighters from the collapse of a tree on their vehicle, the total number of deaths in the fires increased to eight. However, weather conditions are expected to improve in the coming days before another heat wave breaks out in the country in about a week. Last night, nearly 100 fires were counted across New South Wales, of which six were designated as emergency.

Following a change in wind direction, fires are expected to hit Sydney soon, with authorities warning that intensifying fires is expected to worsen fire conditions. "The winds will create unexpected fire conditions," authorities warned.
Shortly after announcing the two deaths, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was in a rush to return from his family vacation in Hawaii, a vacation that was followed by fierce criticism of Morrison as the crisis deepened.

Criticized his vacation in Hawaii. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Photo: AP)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney on October 9, 2019 (Photo: AP)

It is expected to land in Australia later today. In the network, a wave of criticism of the prime minister quickly developed as the heat waves and fires in the country broke records. Australian firefighters' union chief Leighton Drury called the prime minister's conduct "a total lack of leadership."

In South Australia, too, severe fires are raging, and authorities have announced that one person was found dead, another fatally wounded and about 15 homes destroyed in a fire raging in the Adelaide Mountains. According to state authorities, about 40,000 acres have been burned in the 142 fires raging in the state since Friday, joining nearly 3 million acres of wildfires burned.