By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent
The lighthouse made famous in TV soap Home And Away has been saved from destruction by volunteer firefighters.
The lighthouse obscured by thick smoke Pic: Lauren Austin Hot and windy weather caused a major bushfire to take hold on the Barrenjoey headland, which often features in scenes from the hit TV show.
Crews managed to save the main lighthouse Pic: Ingleside RFS The blaze, one of many across the state of New South Wales, broke out across the headland on Saturday, with billowing black smoke visible from the adjacent Palm Beach, which is renamed "Summer Bay" for the soap.
An emergency alert was initially issued and headland visitors were advised to seek shelter near the lighthouse after access to a walking trail was cut off.
About 80 Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters and three aircraft were brought in to battle the fire.
The lighthouse was saved but a nearby lighthouse cottage sustained some roof damage.
At the height of the fire it was feared some tourists may have been trapped, but all people have since been accounted for.
One firefighter sustained minor injuries in the blaze.
It is not known how the fire was sparked.
RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd said 60% of the Barrenjoey headland around the lighthouse had been burnt.
Witness Scott Carpenter said the fire looked like "an inferno" and was engulfing the headland.
"I'm watching in horror," he said.
"The whole east side of the headland is in flames ... it's spreading very quickly."
The strong winds and hot temperatures have kept firefighters busy with 60 fires, including 20 uncontained, burning across NSW.
Much of the Barrenjoey headland has been burnt. Pic: NSW Rural Fire Service Mr Shepherd said a fire at Port Stephens, near Italia Road, East Seaham, initially threatened homes but crews managed to save them.
Containment lines have been established around parts of the fire, Mr Shepherd confirmed.
The 'Summer Bay' fire crew. Pic: Ingleside RFS A bushfire that started on Thursday has continued to burn in the Shallow Bay area in the Great Lakes.
The fire is contained, Mr Shepherd said.
Another bushfire that started on Thursday south of Taree is also under control.
A photo of the headland with the lighthouse shadow. Pic: Ingleside RFS Mr Shepherd said while there were no total fire bans in place for Sunday, the main concern was the lack of rain.
"Until such time we get significant rain, we maintain the problem of any warm and windy days we have increasing fire risks and the possibility of fire bans," he said.
Almost 80 volunteers helped tackled the blaze on Barrenjoey headland Last week a 16-year-old boy was charged with lighting fires which destroyed 40 hectares of land in the New South Wales Hunter Valley wine region.
The blaze threatened property and forced the evacuation of 60 children from a scout camp.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Home And Away: Lighthouse In Fire Drama
Dengan url
http://buangdwiet.blogspot.com/2013/09/home-and-away-lighthouse-in-fire-drama.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Home And Away: Lighthouse In Fire Drama
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Home And Away: Lighthouse In Fire Drama
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar