Police are investigating the theft of roughly 25,000 litres of drinking water from a council facility in the state of New South Wales, which has been hit by severe a drought and bushfires.

The alleged thieves arrived in the town of Murwillumbah with a water tanker and a Toyota Hilux on Monday night.

Detective Chief Inspector Luke Arthurs said the act of stealing water during a time of hardship for the state was “shocking”.

He said: “This kind of theft is not acceptable. Police will continue to investigate the incident and are pleading with anyone with information to contact us.”

The amount of water stolen could potentially fill up to seven fire trucks, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Show all 15 1 /15 States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A firefighter works on a bushfire believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike that has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares in northern New South Wales state AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A dehydrated and injured Koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A water tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A kangaroo is seen by the burnt remains of a vintage car in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Photo taken on November 9, 2019 shows bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage around his home in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters conduct property protection as a bushfire burns close to homes on Railway Parade in Woodford NSW AP States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) comforts 85-year-old resident Owen Whalan at an evacauation centre in Taree 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire burns at Bolivia Hill in Glen Innes Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A resident puts out small fires as he rides his motorcycle in Old Bar, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney on November 9, 2019, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Construction workers speak as smoke haze drifts over Sydney, Australia EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images

Bushfires devastating New South Wales have burned about 2.5 million acres of farmland and bush and destroyed over 400 homes.

At least four people have been killed by the fires since they began in November.

Other parts of the country are also being affected by water shortages. A school in Queensland announced its groundwater supplies are running dry, prompting a call for the state government to declare a water emergency.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Tamborine Mountain State School advised parents to send their children to school with additional bottles of drinking water due to the shortage.

Residents in the Tamborine Mountain rely largely on groundwater and tank water supplies, and believe commercial water extraction by companies such as Coca Cola is “threatening their wellbeing”.

Protest group Save Our Water Tamborine Mountain has called for the Minister of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Anthony Lynham, to suspend commercial water extraction.

A representative of the group, Craig Peter, told ABC: “Under the Water Act of 2000… we believe he has the power to essentially say there is a shortage of water that is threatening the wellbeing of people and the health of the people up here.”

Lynham responded to the calls for an emergency, saying the government has no power to limit commercial water extraction due to a lack of regulation.

He said: “I do have the power to limit take in a declared water shortage – but that is everyone’s take, including local farmers, households, and businesses.”

On Wednesday night, bushfire also broke out in Perth and authorities have issued an emergency warning for the people in Yanchep, Two Rocks, Breakwater Estate, and Sea Trees Estate to evacuate.

The “uncontrolled” fires are expected to continue for at least two more days due to strong winds, reports WA Today, having already blazed through about 3,212 acres of land.