Australian bushfires: Shocking moment Sydney 'mega blaze' explodes forcing fire crews run for cover

Ewan Somerville6 December 2019

Fire crews have captured the terrifying moment an Australian bushfire exploded, forcing them to flee the area.

The horror footage was shot by Ingleburn fire and rescue service as they fought raging bushfires just outside Sydney.

Around 2,000 firefighters are continuing to battle around 100 fires that are raging across the country.

The mobile video shows a "mega blaze", the most dangerous fire category in the state's regulations, spreading from treetop to treetop, a process known as "crowning".

But suddenly shouts are heard as the inferno leaps into the air and the camera violently shakes as the firefighter filming the scene sprints away.

The flames are seen blasting into the air and surging perilously close to the fire truck on site.

In a Facebook post, the force warned: "The video was put up to demonstrate why you need to listen to the fire advisory system.

"If your property is not prepared for the bushfire season and you’re not sure you are able or capable of defending your property if a fire approaches you need to leave straight away."

No one was injured, but since October fires in New South Wales have claimed six lives and ruined more than 700 homes.

The state declared a "catastrophic" fire warning last month, with officials telling locals that time was up to flee.

Authorities said on Friday that three fires had merged north of Sydney to form the "mega blaze" shown in the video, covering some 3,000 square kilometres.

The country's biggest city has been cloaked in smoke this week, with a spike in medical issues reported.

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