Informant38

Ring of fire encircles Sydney

Thursday 5 December 2002, 22:32PM

Fire storms raged around Sydney for a second day on Thursday, forcing authorities to call in the military and bring in reinforcements to combat Sydney's worst bushfire threat in decades.

As more than 3,000 firefighters battled to control 60 fires which had razed 17 homes, NSW Premier Bob Carr warned this summer could prove more devastating than last, when 115 homes were lost and property damage exceeded $70 million.

Fanned by strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity, the fires jumped roads and rivers, forcing evacuations, school closures, road closures, power interruptions and livestock deaths.

The Weather Bureau predicted more of the same for Friday