FIREFIGHTERS have worked through the night to protect people, homes and properties from blazes burning out of control in the Snowy Valleys region.
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The fire overnight claimed the life of a 47-year-old man as he helped a friend defend property on Batlow Road.
When he didn't return from retrieving water from a nearby ute, his friend discovered him unconscious in the vehicle. Despite efforts by emergency services, he could not be revived.
Extreme weather conditions on Saturday, when temperatures soared to the mid-40s, saw the Dunns Road bushfire grow to 235,326 hectares.
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An unconfirmed number of homes are understood to have been lost.
Hundreds of residents in the affected areas sought shelter in the safety of neighbouring towns, including Wagga.
Many towns, including Batlow, Tumbarumba, Talbingo, Adelong and Tumut remain under a watch and act alert on Sunday morning, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
A number of roads in the area are closed, including the Snowy Mountains Highway between Mount Adrah (the Hume Highway) and Gilmore (Batlow Road) and Tumut and Cooma.
Other road closures include:
- Adelong to Tumblong - Grahamstown Road is closed
- Adelong to Rosewood - Wondalga Road
- Tumbarumba to Batlow and Gilmore - Batlow Road is closed
Residents across NSW were asked to reduce their power use yesterday evening after fire damaged a major interstate transmission line in the Snowy Mountains.
Essential Energy has advised there are extensive power outages in the Snowy Valleys area, with thousands of homes affected.
Residents across the region have been eager to assist those affected by the fires, with offers of accommodation, food, clothing, equipment and money.
Anyone wishing to help can leave their details here.
The Daily Advertiser will continue to provide rolling coverage on the local fires throughout the day via its live blog below.
If you wish to keep up to date with the latest information on other fires around the country, including on the South Coast and in Victoria, following ACM's coverage here.
