All Remaining NSW Bushfires Are Now Contained After a Week of Rain

It's the first time the blazes have been under control this bushfire season.

Yesterday afternoon, Australian fire officials announced that every bushfire in New South Wales is officially contained. Since September 2019, the country's most populous state has been hit hard by the unprecedented wildfire season.

The NSW Royal Fire Service took to Twitter to share the news.

"After what's been a truly devastating fire season for both firefighters and residents who suffered through so much this season, all fires are now contained in New South Wales, which is great news," NSW Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said in the video update.

Many people have commented on the post to thank the NSW firefighters for their incredible efforts.

Thank you all for going beyond what any of us imagined possible. You have endured; you have been strong and brave; and you have faced unimaginable horrors and losses on an incomprehensible scale. May you now have the time to do whatever it is you require. 🦜🦋🦜

— Janelle Fletcher (@ya_fletcher) February 13, 2020

"traumatic, exhausting and anxious" - perfect descriptors of the experience.

And now I'd add that we are "humbled, grateful, and indebted".

Thank you #NSWRFS - for everything. These fires have changed us and we take nothing for granted.#AustralianBushfiresDisaster

— Susie (@TheSusieTweets) February 13, 2020

A week of heavy rain gave firefighters the upper hand in getting the fires under control. Hopefully, this will enable them to focus solely on the recovery process.

While the development is undoubtedly cause for celebration, the rainfall has presented its own challenges. Queensland is wrestling with overflowing dams and water authorities in NSW are dealing with ash and debris from the fires flowing into critical water supplies.

Even though the fires in NSW have been contained, bushfires still continue to ravage parts of the nation. Some Western Australian suburbs have recently been issued watch and act alerts.

Almost 3,000 houses have been destroyed across Australia this bushfire season, and 33 people lost their lives while working to fight the fires between 1 October 2019 and 31 January 2020.

Fortunately, people around Australia have made generous donations towards bushfire recovery. Since July 2019, The Red Cross have received $140 million to help assist people who have lost everything. 

If you would like to help Australian bushfire victims by donating money, you can see a list of organisations and charities here.

Header Image: Brook Mitchell / Stringer / Getty Images News via Getty Images