At least two homes have been lost and seven firefighters injured as bushfires burn uncontained west of Sydney

At least two homes have been lost and seven firefighters injured as bushfires burn uncontained west of Sydney

Summary

We're wrapping up our live coverage. Here is a summary of today's events:

• Over 60 fires broke out across New South Wales as temperatures reached 30 degrees in some parts of the state. A map of fire locations is viewable here.
• Four of the blazes were given emergency warning level, meaning lives and property were under threat. At present one emergency warning, for the fire in Winmalee, Blue Mountains remains in place. The NSW rural fire service have said it may take days to contain the Winmalee blaze.
• Two firefighters have been injured with burns and five more have needed medical assistance for smoke inhalation.
• Two properties, one at Winmalee and one at Marsden park in western Sydney, have been destroyed.
• Ongoing updates on the status of the fires can be viewed on the NSW rural fire service website.

Yesterday, 11:23pm

The Fire Brigade Employees' Union, who represent professional firefighters in urban areas, has issued a damning statement, saying that NSW state government cuts has meant that firefighters were under resourced when fighting today's blazes. They say that five fire stations in Sydney were closed today as a result of cuts, and resources diverted from four others.

The statement says:

As today’s bushfire emergency hit — with multiple fires in Western Sydney, the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and the Central Coast — Fire and Rescue NSW has had to recall off-duty firefighters to cover the gaps and closures.

At Castlereagh, where a large fire is impacting rural properties, the local fire station was also closed on both Sunday and Monday this week.

Union secretary Jim Casey said:

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that hot weather and strong winds can mean bushfires, but it appears to be news to the O’Farrell Government who have been caught with their pants down today.

Off-duty fire crews had to be called in as neighbouring stations raced to protect life and property, all because budget cuts have left large areas of Sydney without adequate fire protection. More

The full statement is available here.