Wildfire Rips Through Koolewong — More Than a Dozen Homes Destroyed, Thousands Urged to Evacuate

Fast-Moving Blaze Devastates Coastal Town North of Sydney

Wildfires tore through the coastal town of Koolewong in New South Wales on Saturday, destroying more than a dozen homes and prompting urgent evacuation orders as temperatures soared to 42C (108F).

Authorities issued alerts for the Phegans Bay and Woy Woy areas and raised danger warnings to the highest level for thousands of residents across New South Wales, the country's most populous state. The state Rural Fire Service advised people to "leave now if the path is clear towards Woy Woy." The coastal region affected is home to more than 350,000 people and lies about 45 km (30 miles) north of Sydney.

Late on Saturday more than 50 bushfires were burning across New South Wales, including a separate blaze in the Upper Hunter area. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that up to 16 homes were consumed by the Koolewong fire.

"You had no time to even think... we've lost everything, all we've got left is what we're wearing," a resident said, describing how quickly the flames moved through the town.

Paul Collis, duty commander for New South Wales Fire and Rescue, told the ABC many houses in the area are multi-level, built on steep, difficult terrain and often constructed with timber and timber decks, making them "very, very hard to protect."

Officials warned that several relatively calm seasons have left an accumulation of dead vegetation and forest debris — creating abundant dry fuel that can help fires spread rapidly. The alert follows memories of Australia's 2019–2020 "Black Summer," when fires burned an area roughly the size of Turkey and 33 people lost their lives as blazes that began in Queensland swept across the south-east until March 2020.

What Residents Should Know

If you are in an evacuation zone, follow official instructions immediately. Leave early if the route is clear, check local emergency services updates, and avoid driving through smoke or fire. Emergency accommodation and support services are being coordinated by local authorities.