As firefighters continue to battle bushfires sweeping New South Wales, residents of the small rural community of Uarby reveal it’s “been all but wiped out” by a bushfire the Rural Fire Service is calling the Sir Evan Fire.
Residents told the ABC that 9 out of the 12 homes in the community were destroyed, including the house belonging to the captain of the local volunteer fire service.
In nearby Cassilis, a farmer heartbreakingly reveals he’s lost his home and livelihood, tears in his eyes: “My house and all my property has totally gone,” Warren Jarvis says.
“My three greyhounds, all my chooks, probably my sheep and cattle.”
You can watch below.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said despite the loss of livestock and properties, it was extraordinary no human lives were lost.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said that Saturday’s scorching temperatures were “unprecedented” and, as reported by News.com.au, also stood to be “worse than the Black Saturday forecast”.
Three major blazes at Dunedoo, Mudgee and Manildra have now been downgraded to alert level.
Stay safe, everyone.