NSW and Victoria bushfire conditions worsen with fears blazes could be unstoppable
ABCBushfire activity across south-eastern Australia has picked up as the region is swept by hot, gusty winds that authorities fear could render blazes unstoppable. Key points: Temperatures have reached into the mid-40s in parts of NSW and Victoria as strong winds fan bushfire activity Authorities fear existing bushfires will spread and join and dry lightning could start new ones The NSW Rural Fire Service says fires could move "frighteningly quickly" like they did on New Year's Eve In New South Wales, emergency warnings have already gone out for several communities who are being hit by bushfires, which have closed a stretch of the Princes Highway south of Nowra. Fires expected to spread in NSW A total fire ban is in place across NSW with extreme fire danger in much of the state's south-east, and authorities are warning conditions could become catastrophic. RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said the fires could move "frighteningly quickly", as they did on New Year's Eve. Huge fire fronts raging across Victoria In Victoria, a huge complex of fires in East Gippsland stretches from north of Bairnsdale to the New South Wales border, with areas not already burnt under threat.