• Strong winds causing powerline damage[7] • Military operations and the use of explosive devices[8] The 2013 New South Wales bushfires were a series of bushfires in Australia across the state of New South Wales primarily starting, or becoming notable, on 13 October 2013; followed by the worst of the fires beginning in the Greater Blue Mountains Area on 16 and 17 October 2013.

High fuel loads, coupled with warm, dry and windy weather, provided dangerous conditions which fuelled the fires.

[10] The Premier of New South Wales Barry O'Farrell declared a state of emergency on 20 October,[11] empowering firefighters to evict residents and demolish fire-affected buildings.

Warm, dry weather and strong winds during September contributed to significant early-season bushfire activity, particularly along the coastal strip.

[22] The fire spread over 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres),[1] primarily in Winmalee and Yellow Rock and nearby bushland, completely destroyed 193 houses and partially damaged approximately 200 more.

Authorities were concerned that weather conditions forecast for 23 October could drive the now merged fire eastwards, with little chance of stopping it, resulting in potentially disastrous impacts on many towns in the Blue Mountains.

Consequently, the NSW Government ordered the closure of every school and child care centre on 23 October, and urged all residents of the Blue Mountains who did not need to be in the mountains to leave early that day prior to 9am to prevent possible loss of life and traffic congestion should fire fighting equipment needed to be moved rapidly.

The fire spread over 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres);[1] before being declared officially out by 13 November, with its cause attributed to strong winds with resultant powerline damage.

[1] Major bushfires at several locations in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions caused significant damage and posed threats to people and property.

[1] Two fires in the Great Lakes local government area, near Bulahdelah and in the upper reaches of the Karuah River, burnt over 1,830 hectares (4,500 acres) of bushland.

[1] In the Muswellbrook Shire, a fire that ignited near Hungerford Creek burnt more than 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) of native bushland in the Wollemi National Park.

[18] Overnight, fire authorities had downgraded the bushfire to 'watch and act' level, but warned that a predicted southerly change could spread the blaze.

To the west, the fire remained east of the Pacific Highway, stopping just short of the Lakeside area, the easternmost subdivision of Raymond Terrace.

Whilst the communities of Alpine, Aylmerton, Balmoral, Bargo, Buxton, Couridjah, Hill Top, Pheasants Nest, Wilton, Yanderra, and Yerrinbool were all threatened or affected by the Hall Road fire;[53] only two houses and ten other buildings were destroyed.

[3] On the Mid North Coast region, a fire that was ignited in the upper catchment of the Dungay Creek within the Kempsey Shire burnt more than 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres);[1] and three separate fires in the Clarence Valley local government area, concentrated in the Chaelundi National Park and in the Dalmorton State Forest, burnt over 7,700 hectares (19,000 acres) of bushland.

On 19 October crews from fire authorities in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland joined to assist NSW emergency services' teams.

[59] The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, confirmed on 19 October that bushfire-affected communities would have access to disaster assistance in nineteen local government areas.

[50] As of 26 October 2013[update], A$5.5 million had been raised via public appeals from The Salvation Army, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Australian Red Cross, ANGLICARE Diocese of Sydney and the Blue Mountains City Council Mayoral Relief Fund,[6] asking for people to donate cash, rather than goods.

[61] Personal messages of support and sympathy were received by the Governor of New South Wales from Australia's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and Pope Francis.

[11][12][65] Under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment scheme, people affected were eligible for a A$1000 cash payment for adults and A$400 for each child, subject to certain conditions for residents within the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Muswellbrook, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Wingecarribee and Wyong local government areas.

[66] A range of relief measures, including personal hardship and distress assistance, were made available by the NSW Government via the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services.

[67] In the worst affected area of the Blue Mountains, the risk of asbestos contamination forced authorities to ban owners and the public from visiting houses destroyed by fire,[6] until clearance was given.

A recovery centre was established at Springwood, an animal evacuation shelter at Hawkesbury Showground, and emergency authorities conducted numerous meetings in locations where fires threatened communities.

The fear is of a long and difficult summer fire season.Other international coverage was also provided by the New York Times,[72] CNN,[73] Al Jazeera,[74] The Guardian including on the UK-site homepage,[4] and the New Zealand Herald.

But what is absolutely clear is the science is telling us that there are increasing heat waves in Asia, Europe, and Australia; that there these will continue; that they will continue in their intensity and in their frequency.The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, criticised earlier comments made by Australian Greens' MP Adam Bandt,[77][78][79][80] with Abbott stating on 17 October that "Australia is a country which is prone to natural disaster but every time it strikes, it hurts and we grieve for all of those who are now hurting because of what's happened in NSW".

[81] Abbott dismissed the claims made by Figueres and in an interview on national radio stated that "Climate change is real as I've often said and we should take strong action against it.

[83][84] Well, it's not my place to get involved in your politics, but it reminds me of politicians here in the United States who got a lot of support from the tobacco companies and who argued to the public that there was absolutely no connection between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer.

And bushfires can occur naturally, and do, but the science shows clearly that when the temperature goes up and when the vegetation and soils dry out, then wildfires become more pervasive and more dangerous.