More than 60 bushfires are burning in the state of New South Wales in Australia

(CNN)Fire officials are warning of “catastrophic fire danger” as firefighters battle dozens of blazes raging across the Australian state of New South Wales.

At that time, preliminary reports suggested more than 100 homes had been lost, Fitzsimmons said.

Three firefighters on the north coast were injured Sunday when a tree fell across their vehicle, Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said in a statement. At least two of the firefighters were taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Forecasts for the coming days show high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity, the fire service said Sunday, raising the fire danger for the greater Sydney area to a “catastrophic” rating — the highest level of bushfire danger, the fire service said.

Residents are advised to avoid areas that might be prone to fires, or identify safe locations if they’re unable to leave.

A total fire ban was instituted statewide and will stretch into Monday and Tuesday, the fire service said.

But NSW residents haven’t been the only ones impacted. According to Sue Ashton, president of the Koala Hospital Port Macquarie, an estimated 350 koalas are feared dead in the bushfires.

“Where we thought we had koalas, we now think they’ve been incinerated,” Sue Ashton, president of the koala hospital, told CNN affiliate Nine News Australia on Friday. “The fire is so intense that what’s happening is the fire goes through and the little koalas and other wildlife are just burned to pieces and become ash. So it’s absolutely horrific.”

The hospital is treating at least 12 koalas, five of whom have serious injuries, Ashton said.

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Introducing LINR Paul. He is the first koala admitted from Lake Innes Nature Reserve after the fire. Paul's fur is singed and his feet and hands are burnt. Here he is receiving some fluids from our dedicated volunteers. Our qualified search and rescue volunteer teams are working closely with Fire and Rescue, Rural Fire Service, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and National Parks and Wildlife Service to collect burnt or injured koalas and other fauna for treatment and care.

A post shared by Port Macquarie Koala Hospital (@portmacquariekoalahospital) on Nov 2, 2019 at 5:26am PDT

An estimated 500 to 600 koalas live on the Lake Innes Nature Reserve in New South Wales, Ashton said, and two-thirds of the habitat has already burned.

The koala population of New South Wales dropped below 20,000 because of excessive tree-clearing, the World Wildlife Fund said in March. Koalas in the area are on track to be extinct as soon as early 2050, it said.

Original Article : HERE ;

from MetNews https://metnews.pw/more-than-60-bushfires-are-burning-in-the-state-of-new-south-wales-in-australia/