Weather forecast warning over Australia wildfires Flames reaching five storeys high have engulfed the Blue Mountains in Australia. As more than 3,000 firefighters struggle to tackle the blaze, the weather conditions are worsening. A forecast of strong winds and high temperatures led Michael Gallacher the Emergency Services Minister for New South Wales to get tough. Quite simply now is the time to listen to the warnings that have been given through the course of this week to ensure there is no unpredictable behaviour by people who simply are in areas where they do not have a plan. If you don't have a plan, quite simply let me give you one. Pack the car now, head down the mountain, come down. Schools have been closed as winds reached up to 70 km per hour. The fire service said 59 fires were burning, 19 of which had yet to be contained. So far more than 200 homes have been burnt to a cinder in a region just 80 kms west of Sydney.