Fires burn across NSW

Clouded views: Fires rip through the Glenrock Lagoon National Park. Photo: Peter Stoop

Fire crews were fighting more than 20 out-of-control blazes across NSW on Thursday night, after winds and high temperatures combined to cause havoc across the state.

Winds in Sydney reached 96km/h at Kurnell on Thursday, with temperatures nudging 32 degrees at Observatory Hill at 11 am.

The SES responded to more than 300 calls for help within Sydney, mostly due to trees toppling onto homes and power lines.

More than 4000 Sydney homes were without power at the peak of disruptions, mainly in Lane Cove, Rozelle and Chatswood.

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But by Thursday evening, power had been restored to most homes, with only 100 still disconnected across the city.

Nearly 500 firefighters were battling 50 fires across NSW on Thursday night, more than 20 of which were burning out of control.

Firefighters were particularly concerned about fires at Taree and Great Lakes. A handful of homes was under threat at each location.

The Pacific Highway at Taree was closed in both directions.

It was believed the high temperatures and wind were responsible for the outbreak, but at least one fire, near a campsite at Lake Macquarie, was the result of suspected arson. Police said four teenage boys had been arrested on suspicion of igniting a number of fires in a conservation area.

''We'll probably get a day of reprieve [on Friday] before some warm and windy weather on Saturday,'' a Rural Fire Service spokesman said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/fires-burn-across-nsw-20130926-2ugs1.html#ixzz2g14IBzEi