Cooler weather aids NSW firefighters

Cooler temperatures have allowed NSW firefighters to get the upper hand on a number
of blazes sparked by Sunday's scorching conditions.

But with 30 degree temperatures tipped for later in the week, they are preparing
themselves for the next onslaught in what promises to be a long, hot summer.
Cooler conditions on Monday broke Sydney's heatwave but about 80 fires continued to
burn across NSW.
A fire burning outside Rylstone in the state's central west is still the main
concern for firefighters, who spent the day building containment lines around it.
On Sunday the fire sparked an emergency situation for property on the outskirts of
Rylstone and the nearby townships of Kandos and Clandulla.
But a cool southerly on Sunday night helped firefighters in their efforts to protect
the towns, with no property lost.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said the fire, burning between Lake Windamere and the
western outskirts of Rylstone and Kandos, had not been contained.
However, the milder conditions meant firefighters could build containment lines
around the blaze, which has so far burnt 5,000 hectares of bushland.
"The crews have identified containment lines, and they're working from those
containment lines to secure a perimeter around that fire," an RFS spokesman told
AAP.
"That fire's burning in some pretty steep country out there at the moment so the
fire has to burn down to those identified containment lines.
"It may well take a couple of days in some areas, but even with the cooler
conditions crews will be remaining vigilant in ensuring that they keep a very close
eye on that as it gets closer to those containment lines."
Residents who evacuated their properties during Sunday's emergency have been told
they can return home, with the Mudgee evacuation centre now closed.
However, schools in Rylstone and Kandos were closed on Monday.
A fire that threatened properties along Kangaroobie Road, 9km west of Orange, was
contained on Sunday night.
Firefighters are still trying to contain fires near Glen Davis in the central west
and Laguna in the Hunter Valley, but say no properties are under threat.
The RFS is also battling blazes in the Hawkesbury area, the Blue Mountains and the
north of the state.
The top Sydney temperature of 23 degrees on Monday was little more than half that in
Sunday's heatwave conditions.
However, the respite will be shortlived, with temperatures in the low to mid 30s
forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Similar temperatures will be recorded in other parts of the state.
Firefighters would take advantage of the cooler weather before Thursday's change,
the RFS spokesman said.
"Obviously that gives us a three day window of opportunity across all firegrounds to
make the most of that cooler weather, and try and make sure they are as secure as
possible before we go into that warmer weather again," he said.
"We'll be making the most of the cooler days, certainly getting lines in whenever we
can.
"However, we need to remain very mindful that we are expecting warmer weather later
in the week and we can't drop our guard."
Meanwhile, the penalty for lighting a fire during a total fire ban has doubled to
$1,100.
If court action is required, offenders face maximum penalties of $5,500.