AUSTRALIA: Wine regions escape the blaze as NSW burns
Despite the devastating bushfires that have ravaged New South Wales since Christmas and reached the fringes of Sydney, the vineyards and wineries of the Hunter Valley are so far unthreatened. One fire, almost certainly started by an arsonist, in the Wollemi National Park west of the Hunter region could pose a threat to the Singleton coalfields – the region’s other and principal industry. But on Friday morning (Australian time) it was reported to be contained.