Overview
- Authorities have the highest evacuation alerts in place for hundreds of thousands of residents across affected regions of New South Wales.
- Premier Chris Minns said over 1,500 firefighters and about 300 vehicles are deployed to contain the fires.
- Officials report at least 16 homes destroyed and thousands of hectares burned, including more than 9,000 hectares in Goulburn River National Park.
- The federal government activated disaster relief for New South Wales as gusty winds and extreme heat drive rapid fire spread, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned of a difficult summer ahead and said no deaths have been reported so far.