Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens threatened by bushfire

Under threat by a huge bushfire and for safety reasons, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah was closed over the weekend (14th and 15th December) with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) conducting back burning in the area surrounding the Garden.

In a statement on their website, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden advised “we at the Garden are extremely grateful to the emergency service personnel and volunteers who are dedicating their time and efforts to dealing with the devastating bushfires.”

As of this morning (16th December) RFS has downgraded the threat to Watch and Act as fire activity has been reduced in the areas of Mt Tomah, Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine, and Berambing. Although fire is still active in areas, there is currently no immediate threat.

108 fires were burning in NSW on Sunday evening (15th December), with 57 not yet contained.

With more than 2000 firefighters tackling the blazes, RFS have advised that conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the week as higher temperatures are experienced across NSW.

Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1582 outbuildings had been destroyed so far this fire season. Six people have died and 2.7 million hectares have been scorched.

Image courtesy of NSW State Emergency Services.