Authorities in New South Wales have declared a natural disaster as firefighters continue to battle more than 70 blazes across the state, with at least 16 homes confirmed lost and 20 fires still uncontained.
Homes Lost as Fires Rage on Central and Mid-North Coasts
The most destructive blaze has been an out-of-control bushfire at Koolewong on the Central Coast, which destroyed more than 12 homes on Saturday, 6 December 2025. Premier Chris Minns revealed the severity of the fire, stating that embers jumped a stretch of water over a kilometre long. Another four homes were lost at Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast.
Firefighting efforts have been intensive, involving fire engines, water-bombing aircraft, and crews from brigades like Krambach Rural Fire Brigade. Despite their work, conditions remain perilous.
‘Difficult’ Summer Ahead as Winds Threaten to Fan Flames
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after visiting Emergency Management Australia headquarters, issued a stark warning of a challenging summer bushfire season. "So this summer of course, like all summers that would appear in recent times, is going to be a difficult one," he stated on the ABC's Insiders programme.
Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Ben Millington echoed the concern, noting that a southerly change forecast for Sunday morning could bring strong winds and possible lightning strikes. "We’re not out of the woods yet," Millington said. An emergency warning was issued for Redhead, south of Newcastle, on Sunday morning before being downgraded.
Disaster Funding Activated for Impacted Communities
The natural disaster declaration activates support measures under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The declaration applies to the Local Government Areas of:
- Central Coast
- Mid Coast
- Upper Hunter
- Muswellbrook
- Warrumbungle
- Dubbo
NSW recovery minister Janelle Saffin said, "While we continue to contain the fires... our priority is also to support those people whose homes and livelihoods have been impacted." Assistance includes immediate financial help, clean-up, and rebuilding support.
Damage assessment teams and investigators from NSW Police and the RFS are on the ground to determine the cause of the blazes. While temperatures are expected to ease for most of NSW, hot conditions are forecast to return early in the week, and several bushfires continue to burn in Tasmania following damaging fires at Dolphin Sands.
