SYDNEY, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- New South Wales Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS), the lead combat agency for bush fires in the Australian state of NSW, has downgraded the alert levels for bush fires on the NSW Central Coast and in the Upper Hunter region both from Emergency Warning to Watch and Act.
The authority said in its Major Fire Updates on Saturday evening that the bush fire was burning in the Goulburn River National Park, which is located in the Upper Hunter region, in the locations of Baerami, Baerami Creek, Widden, Yarrawa and Kerrabee.
"The fire is currently 10,206 hectares in size and is being controlled," it said. "Light rain has fallen on the fireground, reducing the fire activity."
As for the fire on the NSW Central Coast, NSW RFS said that it was burning in the Koolewong, Phegans Bay and Woy Woy Bay area. It had burnt through more than 100 hectares and was yet to be controlled.
But it added that with thunderstorms moving through the area, light rain was easing conditions on the fireground.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon that 12 homes were damaged or destroyed in Koolewong, adding that the number "may rise," the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
NSW RFS deployed more than 1,500 firefighters with 300 vehicles, and the government was doing "everything we can to protect lives," he said.
NSW RFS also said on Saturday evening that a bush fire in Bulahdelah, a town and locality in the Mid North Coast region, was over 2,938 hectares and was being controlled. The authority confirmed earlier that the fire destroyed up to four homes in the Crawford River area. ■
