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Scorcher On The Roof As Nsw Burns Down Below
16 January 2001
It must have been one of the hottest jobs in the hottest part of Sydney. As temperatures reached almost 47 degrees in Sydney's west, tiler Jaiman Sinwan, 24, and his apprentice Corey Blacklock, 19, were the only roof tilers to brave the heat at the Tallowood Hills housing estate at Kellyville.
After ripping their shirts off, they spent the day packing black tiles into the roof on Highfield Place in conditions similar to an incinerator.
``The black tiles make it just that little bit hotter," said Mr Sinwan. While yesterday's heat was intense, it was not his worst day on the job. ``I've had days where you're standing on the tiles and your feet are literally burning up. It's not the best job to be doing in the summer. I'd rather be sitting in an office."
Below him carpenter Daniel Evans, 22, said the tilers were the lucky ones. ``At least up there you get the breeze. Down here you cook. You probably lose about two kilos. I'd rather be at home with a few beers."
While in the Sydney CBD a cooling sea breeze lowered temperatures, they peaked at Penrith, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, at 45 degrees by 3pm. At Richmond the temperature rose to 43, making it the hottest day in 10 years.
Bushfires broke out in the Hunter Valley and on the Central Coast. In the Sydney metropolitan area, grass fires broke out at Waitara, Marayong, Blacktown, Quakers Hill and in the Hawkesbury area.
Fire closed George Booth Drive between Lake Macquarie and Kurri Kurri, at one stage threatening a camping area. Another fire was burning around Chittaway near Wyong and yet another had broken out near Tarcutta in the State's south, closing the Hume Highway.
Despite the conditions, Sydney hospitals did not report an increase in admissions for heat stress.
At Blacktown Hospital, Dr Paul Daudry said: ``People must have stayed at home, because we haven't had a problem today. People are probably being sensible. Staying out of the heat."
At the RSPCA's headquarters at Yagoona, inspector Mr Brett Bell said the sprinkler had been directed onto the dogs that were in outdoor kennels.
``Potential risk for severe injury or dehydration today is very likely," he said.
Energy consumption surged as Sydneysiders resorted to air-conditioning to cool homes and offices.
At Bourke in the State's far west, the Mayor, Councillor Wayne O'Mally, a grazier, said temperatures had soared to 46 degrees the hottest day in two years.
But rain before Christmas meant there was adequate water for stock.
By 3pm, Sydneysiders had consumed 4,673 megawatts of electricity, compared with this summer's previous peak of 4,590 megawatts on December 12.
One of the coolest jobs yesterday was in the cheese room of GPO Produce at Martin Place, where the temperature was a chilling 12 degrees.
Ms Kirsty Davison, 29, spent the day dressed in an anorak and a wool jumper.
``I've got a skivvy on, a wool jumper, and a fleece," said Ms Davison.
``When I first started I was so cold all the time. I'm the biggest frog; I hate winter, I hate the cold. Now I'm glad to be in there every day. It's a good job for summer."
Conditions are expected to ease in the metropolitan area today, with a forecast for temperatures of 21 to 26 degrees. But the inland will remain hot with fire risks remaining.
