Wildfires

Wildfires - Australia

The number of homes razed by bushfires this season has climbed to almost 1,000, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) says in its latest impact assessment.

After re-entering the charred remains of towns ravaged by fire in the past week, the RFS confirmed 873 homes had been destroyed since July 1. That figure is in addition to 100 homes believed destroyed since last Thursday, which the RFS has not yet included in its official count. The RFS said an additional 2,048 outbuildings and 68 facilities were levelled by the blaze.

Meanwhile, residents and travellers have been left stranded by extensive road closures caused by the bushfires. Hundreds of kilometres of roads, including major highways and busy arteries, around the state were closed in both directions.