NSW: Mild weather brings firefighters hope this Christmas

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NSW: Mild weather brings firefighters hope this Christmas

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - NSW firefighters have been given the best Christmas present thisyear - mild weather.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesman John Winter today said NSW residents could restassured this year's festive season would not be marred by the horror of last year's Christmasbushfires.

"Our firefighters have had the best Christmas present of all, that's mild weather," he said.

"We don't have anything like the forecast potential we had last year.

"We expect the Christmas period itself to be very quiet."

At the height of last year's Christmas crisis, more than 100 separate fires blazedacross the state and some 10,500 people were forced from their homes.

A total of 109 homes were destroyed in the three weeks beginning Christmas Day.

Mr Winter said 45 fires were currently raging across the state, with the Snowy River,Lismore, Cobar and Bombala the worst affected areas.

He said the recent rain had temporarily reduced the fire risk and there was no majorthreat expected this week.

However the relief was unlikely to last, he said.

Meanwhile, a brief but severe storm hit two northern NSW towns early today, damaginghomes and uprooting trees.

The State Emergency Services (SES) said four homes and a heritage-listed shop weredamaged in the town of Guyra.

The homes suffered roof damage when 75mm of rain and large hail stones fell, whilethe shop was waterlogged after hail blocked the gutters.

AAP kn/nf/cd/sb

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW