Fire Update
NSW Rural Fire Service
29 September 2003
1. Fire Update 27 September
Strong winds of up to 90km/h have hampered the efforts of fire crews across
NSW today, with more than 1,000 RFS volunteer firefighters contending with over
70 fires.
KEMPSEY
Two new fires today, one at Crescent Head around the Beranghi Road area and the
other around Stumpy Creek.
The Pacific Highway was closed by Police for a short time due to the heavy smoke
that affected the area.
The Stumpy Creek fire is running and has the potential to jump the main
north-south rail line. If this occurs, properties may come under threat around
Crescent Head Road.
NORTHERN TABLELANDS - Tenterfield, Severn, Inverell
The Hewetts Peak fire (near Glenn Innes/Old Grafton Road) has broken containment
lines under 90kph southwesterly wind gusts forcing the evacuation of some of the
80 residents from the multiple-occupancy community of Whytalaba. Crews
successfully defended 5 homes that were directly in the firepath. There are some
indications of property loss, although it is unsure at this time as to whether
these properties were used as homes. The fire was reported as spotting as much
as 3kms forward of the main fire front and has now entered the Nymboida Shire.
Wyong
Central Mangrove - 560ha is being controlled. A Section 44 ``bushfire
emergency'' was declared on Thursday, 25/9. Fire started 24.9.03.
Burning between Central Mangrove and Jilliby Nature Reserve. More than 70
firefighters and 6 helicopters are working on containment lines in the area.
Crews are establishing containment lines and backburning along asset perimeter
and Tooheys Road to the east. Helicopter waterbombing has been slowing the
progress of the head of the fire while ground crews and dozers work on
containment lines.
Aim is to contain the fire in the Ourimba Creek Valley, west of Prestons Ridge
Road in order to protect assets to north and south and east of the fire.
No current property problems but containment proving difficult in weather
conditions with westerly winds of over 60km/h currently being experienced.
A helicopter has been tasked to flying the Yarramalong Valley to identify any
bush shack residences as a precaution should the fire jump containment lines
along Forest Road and run into this area.
The fire burning at Crackneck is not considered to be of concern and has dropped
over the edge of the escarpment to the cliff base bordering the sea. This fire
will be flown by helicopter later today to ensure that any risk of the fire
running back around the edge of the cliff base under the expected southerly wind
is identified.
BLUE MOUNTAINS
A new fire began Friday afternoon at Eaglehawk Lookout near the Scenic Skyway -
Katoomba.
The fire began at about 4.30pm on Friday and caused Cliff Roadand Skyway
facility to close for about one hour while RFS and NSW Fire Brigades crews
attended with assistance from NPWS helicopter.Fire has dropped over the cliff
face into the Jamison Valley and is moving east.
Overnight crews backburned along Cliff Drive (which remains closed). A bulk
water tanker is being used to spray water onto the valley floor from EagleHawk
Lookout to help suppress any fire activity.
The Skyway is open, as is the Scenic Railway, however Railway users are not
permitted to leave the immediate vicinity of the base stations with walking
trails closed to all but fire services personnel.
Bizarrely, crews experienced light snow late morning Saturday.
SHOALHAVEN
A new fire at Ulladulla briefly threatened a caravan park on the southern
headland. 15 fire tankers were quickly on the scene and manage to avert any
property loss. Fire crews are continuing to attempt to contain the fire that is
still threatening the power supply to the lighthouse. Crews are being assisted
by a mild southerly change that has occurred.
NEWCASTLE
The NSW Rural Fire Service has been assisting the NSW Fire Brigades by providing
5 tankers to work on two fires in the Newcastle area.
The fire at Belmont north is reported to have damaged one home and a cement
factory. Initial reports suggest the damage is minor.
WEATHER OUTLOOK
Generally milder conditions are expected Sunday, with winds easing and an
easterly influence begin to take hold across the eastern half of the State. High
to Very High fire danger ratings continue over most of the State, so caution
continues to be urged - particularly in fire affected areas.
2. Fire Update 29 September
Generally mild conditions assisted more than 600 firefighters to continue
containment work on more than 75 fires in NSW.
No significant fire runs were experienced today, although winds did increase
fire activity on the Mid North Coast. Weather conditions are expected to assist
firefighters in coming days.
NORTHERN RIVERS - Kyogle, Copmanhurst
One new fire in McKellar Range is contained and escapes from containment lines
on the Phillips Creek, Wild Cattle Grass have been contained but will require
significant work.
All other fires are at patrol status.
Local RFS crews are working on the fires as well as assisting in Tenterfield.
KYOGLE
· Clarks Fire (Larnook, Boorabee Rd), 467ha private land. Fire is contained and
being patrolled by helicopter. Little current threat.Start 7.9.03 on private
property.
· Swindlers Fire, Paddys Flat, 667ha of national park and is being patrolled.
Started 13.9 on State Forest. Fire is contained and being patrolled by air.
· Ducat (Capeen), 337ha private and national park. Is being patrolled. Start
14.9 on private property.There is little fire activity. Fire was going out once
it reached flat grass land areas.
· Mt Williams (Bonalbo), 161ha private land is being patrolled. Started 16.9 on
private property.
· Palen Creek, 207ha is being patrolled. Started 15.9 in Border Ranges National
Park. Fire is mostly surrounded by World Heritage listed rainforest. Low threat.
COPMANHURST
· Mt Lardner (Whiporie) - OUT 315ha of private and national park land. Start
12.9 on private property.
· Camira Complex (Clearfield) OUT. (Camira and Mt Neville Fires) 4448ha of
private, national park and State Forest land. Start 10/9 on private
property.Very low threat. .
MID NORTH COAST
A Section 44 `bushfire emergency' applies to the Hastings, Nambucca and Kempsey
Districts.
Kerwong fire still going while the Gallway Fire and Beechwood Fire are contained
on three sides with work earthworks and back burning being undertaken today.
The Tower and Cemetry fires are contained within natural containment lines but
require more work to bring to full containment status with the forecast winds.·
Stumpy Creek which caused concerns in south Kempsey at the weekend experienced
significant fire activity at midday, as did the Wallace Fire in Pappinburra, but
waterbombing aircraft assisted ground crews to keep the fires within containment
lines.
Victoria Valley has been brought under control by back burning a containment
line to the river. It is now being patrolled.
Dozer lines being established on Starlings Road Fire (Collombatti State Forest)
a remote area fire. Kundabung fire contained by natural features and requires
more work, with Viewmont at patrol status.
KEMPSEY
Winstead Fire (Kempsey) - 70ha is being controlled. Start 26/09/03. Concerns
about the fire traveling north into Maria State Forest and Maria National Park
and private property.
Stumpy Ck - 197ha is being patrolled. Started 27/9 suspicious. 47 RFS, NSW Fire
Brigades and State Forest firefighters.
Victoria Valley - 250ha is being patrolled. Start 27/09/03 .
NAMBUCCA
· Viewmont Fire, Bollanolla Nature Reserve, 1046ha, is being patrolled.Start on
private property. Small fires continue to burn internally.
HASTINGS
Firefighters were able to make good progress with the 12 fires affecting the
Hastings district as weather assisted containment work.
In particular, good progress was made on the Red Hill, Towers and McIvers Fires.
Crews were also able to jump on a fire that started in Port Macquarie, near the
crematorium. No property is under threat and a bulldozer is grading containment
lines in the area.
Weather conditions should assist in coming days.
· Red Hill, Telegraph Point , 670ha being controlled. Start 13.9 on private
property. RFS crews are continuing to monitor and patrol the contained fire. *
· Jaspers Peak, Birdwood, 1239ha. Start 11.9.03 on private property is being
patrolled. At this time the northwest flanks are being contained using natural
lines. Monitor, patrol with helicopter and carry out property protection when
and if required. No current threat to rural properties. Fire is in inaccessible
area.*
· Gingers Fire, Ralfes Peak. 30ha national park. OUT. *
· Cemetery Fire, Comboyne, is at 300ha. Start 12.9 on private property. Is
being controlled. Monitor and patrol. Fire is smouldering well within lines. *
· Gallway Fire, Birdwood, 1200ha is being going. Started 11.9 on private
property. Fire has crossed Forkes Rd . Fire continuing to spread in an easterly
and northerly direction through regrowth forest.*
· Albert Fire (Yarras), 250ha. Contained. Started 25/9. *
· Coopers Fire (Yarras), going 522ha. The fire is burning in inaccessible
country. The property owner is establishing containment lines. The spread of
this fire should be contained by utilising old hazard reduction burn and natural
containment lines.*
· Tower Fire (Telegraph Point), 180ha, being controlled. Fire started on
private property 24/9. Crews are working on containment lines. Potential but no
current threat to rural properties along Gum Scrub Rd and Bailys Rd.*
· Saddle Trail - 950ha of national park land - fire is going. Started 23/09/03
. 20 NPWS firefighters, three machines and aircraft are working on the control
lines. Control lines are Kumbatine Brook Rd- Side Cut trail- Stockyard trail-
Main Rangetrail. Two dozers and tractor continue to prepare fallback lines.
Crews will monitor the fire that is spreading south within containment lines.
Back burning western and southern flanks will be undertaken when and if
conditions allow. Spotover on western flank monitor by crews. Helicopter water
bucketing to support ground crews till night fall last night.*
· Porter Fire, 135ha, is going. Start 26/09/03. *
· McIvers Ridge Fire Upsalls Creek State Forest, being controlled, 70ha. Start
26/09/03 on State Forest. *
· Beechwood West (Wauchope) 79ha. Fire is going. Start 26/09/03 on private
property.*
GREAT LAKES
- Telleragree Fire, Cooloongoolok 550ha. - Being controlled. Fire within
containment lines. Crews blacking out.Crews working to contain fire east of
Possum Pie Rd, north of he Coolongolook River west of the Pacific Hwy and south
of 4wd trail running east. Fire started on private property 26/9*
. Lawlers Creek, going 20ha. Start 28/9.
· Wallis Island - 600ha. OUT. Fire started 24/9 .
· Ebsworth Rd Fire, 450ha, OUT. Start 22.9.03. Fire started on private
property.
· Curreeki Ck Coolongolook, 10ha, OUT.
DUNGOG
Massey Ck - 1385. OUT
GLOUCESTER
Bullen Bullen 450ha, is being controlled. Fire is in inaccessible terrain. Fire
is self extinguished in the open grazing lands due to lack of fuel.
WYONG
The fire in the Mangrove Mountain area has been contained.
Central Mangrove - 750ha is contained. A Section 44 ``bushfire emergency'' was
declared on Thursday, 25/9. Fire started 24.9.03. Backburn in D sector
completed. All other sectors remain secure. Main fire, and backburns, still
progressing slowly towards Ourimbah Ck to the south and west. 27 firefighters
and four helicopters from RFS and NPWS continue to contain fire in the Ourimbah
Creek valley, west of Tooheys Road in order to protect assets to the north,
south and east of the fire area. A helicopter has been tasked to flying the
Yarramalong Valley to identify any bush shack residences as a precaution should
the fire jump containment lines along Forest Road and run into this area.
The fire burning at Crackneck 20ha has 34 RFS and NPWS firefighters working on
it. The fire dropped over the edge of the escarpment to the cliff base bordering
the sea.
The Horace Point fire (10ha)is considered virtually out. Crews are patrolling to
ensure the fire remains within containment lines in order to protect properties
in the Kangy Angy and Palmdale areas.
NORTHERN TABLELANDS - Tenterfield, Severn, Inverell
Fires of concern Sandy Creek (east of Tenterfield) , Hewetts Peak (east
southeast of Glen Innes), McMinmus (crossed the Queensland border) and the
Malara fires.
The Hewetts Peak fire (near Glenn Innes/Old Grafton Road) broke containment
lines on Saturday under 90kph southwesterly wind gusts forcing the evacuation of
some of the 80 residents from the multiple-occupancy community of Whytalaba.
Crews successfully defended 5 homes that were directly in the firepath. The fire
was reported as spotting as much as 3kms forward of the main fire front and has
now entered the Nymboida Shire.
Of the more than 30 fires that have affected the area for the past two weeks, 15
have been declared out.
Of the 13 fires currently affecting the area, seven are being patrolled, one is
contained, two is being contained and three are going.
Ten continue to be patrolled. Containment work continues on four (Sandy Ck, The
Oaks, Hewitts Peak and Oakwood Creek) while the McMinimus Fire is going
TENTERFIELD
· Hewitts Peak (Henry River) east southeast of Glen Innes, 16820 ha being
controlled. Private and State Forest land. Started 5.9 on Brothers State Forest.
Fire destroyed five dwellings in the multiple-occupancy community of Whytalaba
at the weekend. Crews continued to protect property in the area today. Control
strategy is to utilise existing trails and drainage systems for containment
lines. Construct new containment and fall back lines where necessary.
· Malara Fire, 545ha of private property and National Park, going. Start
25/09/2003.
· Sandy Creek (Bulldog Rock) east of Tenterfield, 936ha, private, NPWS, State
Forest land. Is contained. Started 12.9. The fire is burning in rough terrain.*
· · McMinimus (Wallangarra) 700ha, going. Fire started in Queensland. Burn
progresses further through rough and inaccessible terrain - no immediate threat
to assets of commercial value.*
· Oaks (Sandy Flat) southeast of Tenterfield, 6029ha, private and State Forest
land is being controlled.
· Started 8/9 on private property.
Crews will link between Petries Hut and Billyrimbil fire trail by back burning
off containment lines to the east.*
· Branch Gully (Paddys Flat) north northeast of Tenterfield, being patrolled,
894ha private land. Monitor and patrol all containment lines. State Forest crews
are mopping up and patrolling to ensure the fire remains within containment
lines.*
· Girrard, 1038ha of State Forest and private property is contained and being
patrolled. Started 9.9 on State Forest. No active fire observed for some days.
Brigades are patrolling. Air patrols.*
· Glen Elgin, 10ha private property. Fire was agressively mopped up yesterday
by ground crews and is being patrolled today.
· Turkey Nest (Drake) 57ha start 22/9 State Forest, being patrolled. No current
threat posed. Fire is being monitored by air.*
· Lighting T Fire 1ha, being patrolled, started 26/09/03 on State Forest.
· Sugarbag, 455ha. OUT. Started private property 10.9.
· Patemans, 280ha, is OUT. Start 10.9 on private property.
· Rivertree Fire (Paddys Flat) 294ha private property is being patrolled. No
active fire observed but smoke well within perimeter. *
· Poverty Point (Malara Ck), 1558ha. Is OUT. Start 10.9 on private property.
· Tooloom, 70ha, State Forest land is OUT. Start 10.9 on State Forest land.
· Eagle Creek, 80ha, private property is OUT.
· Rough Hill, 130ha, private property is OUT.
· Emu Creek (northeast of Tenterfield), 174ha, private property is OUT
· Pretty Gully (northeast of Tenterfield), 5ha, is OUT. Start private property
13.9.
· Paddys Flat, 10ha, is OUT. Started 12.9 on private property.
SEVERN
· Tinderbox - 70ha, start 27/09/03 being controlled. Continue to monitor active
fire edge. Establish containment lines and fallback positions, back burn when
containment lines are established and conditions allow.
· Butterleaf Fire (northeast of Glen Innes), 1827ha, is being patrolled.
Started 30.8. No active fire observed at perimeter for some days . Helicopter
reconnaissance continues.
· Oakwood Creek (Henry River) east southeast of Glen Innes, 6875ha national
park, State Forest and private property is OUT. Started 2.9 on private property.
· Kangawalla Fire (Shannon Vale) east southeast of Glen Innes, 586ha, is
OUT.Started 14.9 on private property.
· Capoompeta (south of Tenterfield), 5696ha private, State Forest, national
park land is OUT. Start private property 2.9.
INVERELL
· Bebo Fire (west northwest of Tenterfield), 601ha State Forest and private
Started lightning strike in State Forest on 13.9. Is OUT.
HUNTER CESSNOCK
A Section 44 `bushfire emergency' applies to the Cessnock and Maitland districts
to enable firefighters to coordinate resources on fires in the area.
Although winds were difficult today temperatures remained mild and no severe
fire runs were experienced. Containment has nearly been achieved on the Narone
Ck and Watagan Ck fires and containment line work will contine on these and the
other fires in the area this evening.
The declaration was made on Thursday, 25/9. The three uncontained fires in the
Laguna, Wollombi and Bucketty areas are in steep rough terrain with limited
access. The fires have joined to form one complex - 5km southeast of Laguna.
More than 100 firefighters are working in the area. A new fire broke out in the
Watagan Ck Rd area, near the Laguna complex, on Friday. A task force of RFS
units from Singleton and Fire Brigades units attended to assist local resources
with another 24 firefighters.
There were concerns for rural properties on Watagan Ck Rd as the fire moved on a
ridge behind houses.
· Laguna Complex 2750ha (Noulanas Arm Fire, Cullys Arm Fire, Narome Ck Fire,
Watagan Ck Fire). 100 RFS and State Forests firefighters are working on
containment lines with assistance from 6 helicopters.
Noulanans Arm Fire - 200ha. Over night the fire continued to burn slowly back
towards the west and down into Blaxlands Arm. There are no identified assets
under direct threat in the near future. Air Support have carried out some
bucketing to quell fire activity during the day.
Cullys Arm Fire - 1700ha backburning operations went in well yesterday and crews
overnight continued to deepen containment lines and actively mop up and monitor
the line. A number of trees did fall and have been cleared from the trail.
Current threat with the predicated winds remains the state forests assets to the
east and isolated assets within the Will-O-Wind holdings. Crews are monitoring
fire activity along the eastern boundary through sectors Bravo and Charlie.
Aerial support is to confirm the status and fire activity along Alpha and Zulu
sectors. McDonald Sector is to be monitored and extinguished as it approaches
the trail as required.
Narone Creek Fire - 600hs Little fire active on the eastern boundary with the
fire burning to the west, a number of rural assets may come under threat during
the next 12-24 hours as the fire comes down off the ridge line. Firefighters
sourced a western containment line along the ridge between Narone Creek and
Milson's Arm back towards Wollombi village. Crews are extinguishing active edges
where accessible. Crews will patrol and deepen control lines on the northern and
southern flanks to ensure continued containment, extinguish any active fire
which approaches the valley floor. The western flank is currently open with some
dozer work required to put in place with a containment line and back burning
operations under favourable conditions.
Watagan Creek Fire - 550ha Fire activity is low and is being patrolled by crews
with only a number of smoking trees in the centre of the burnt area, no assets
under threat. Patrolling and mopping up has continued throughout the day.
Hawkesbury strike team has been assisting.
A fire at Heaton Rd, Quorrobolong, southeast of Cessnock has been contained and
is being patrolled. The fire started on 26/9 and is being treated as suspicious.
Fire is contained to control lines. Crews have walked the western containment
line and are actively blacking out any hot spots as needed.
NEW ENGLAND - Armidale, Guyra, Walcha & Uralla
Published - 29/09/2003
Containment work continued on the Kings Gap and Plum Tree fires while all others
remain on patrol.
Kings Gap fire backburning planned to contain the fire on Thunderbolts Way.
The Plum Tree fire that crossed the Oxley highway is still burning in remote
country.
All other fires of concern are still at monitor and patrol. Remote area fires in
State Forest and NPWS lands are still classed as going with strategies in place
to contain the fires in open country and on natural control lines.
WALCHA
· Tobins fire is being patrolled, 10ha. Started 26/09/03 suspiously. Crews
patrolling to ensure fire contained to west of Tobins Rd.
· Plum Tree Hill Fire is being controlled at 347ha Enfield State Forest. Crews
continue construction of containments to west and north using dozer on site and
monitor fire where it has burnt into rainforest and previously burnt country to
the west and south. Started 11/09/03 .
· Yarrowitch River, 110ha private property. Being patrolled. Start 22/09/2003.
· Rusdens Ck, 15ha NPWS land. Being patrolled. Start 22/09/2003.
· Burns Ck, patrol, 700ha. Very low threat to further State Forest, however -
fire is uncontained on private holdings to south east of State Forest. Likely to
burn further 250 ha private holdings. Unlikely to escape from natural
containments of Burns Creek and Rowleys River. However if conditions are
suitable for spotting, could enter private holdings east of Rowleys River over
next few days. Started on private property 11/9.
· Hicks Fire, being patrolled at 1000ha of private, State Forest and NPWS. Very
low threat of fire making further incursions into State Forest. Similarly low
threat of further incursions into national park. Fire started on private
property on 11/9.
· Double Dumps Fire, being controlled 740ha. Concerns for Enfield State Forest,
Daisy Patch Flora Reserve and Cottan Bimbang National Park. Control strategies
include Rowley's River and rainforest scrub to the east to contain. Fire
contained by dozer trails and backburning on north, south and west flanks.
ARMIDALE/DUMERSQ
· Carrai Creek, being controlled, 610ha. Strategy is to contain fire to south
of Warwick and Cochrane Rds and west of Smiths Ck. Backburns conducted from
Warwick Rd in front of fire moving to east. Use tractor to push control line
from Warwick Rd into rainforest along Smiths Ck. Fire crossed Warwick Road pm
26/09. Fire is burning in low fuels on western flank into Macleay River valley.
Start on 11/9 on private property.
GUYRA
· Kings Gap, being controlled, 1200ha. Aim is to keep fire west of Thunderbolt
Way. Start 12/9 by lightning.
FAR NORTH COAST- Mt Warning - Tweed Ballina Byron
Published - 29/09/2003
Fire near Mt Warning is being patrolled.
Mt Warning - 75ha of National Park and private property. Being patrolled.
Earthworks continue to establish containment line at Mt Warning, access
difficult and in steep terrain. Start 26/9 by lightning.
Objective is to monitor the fire advance and control as it burns into paddocks
to south and east and Mt Warning Rd/ Korrumbyn Crk to north. To west there is
reasonable rainforest containment . Closure of Mt Warning National Park as of
1400hrs 27/9/03 to restrict vehicle movements along the road for later fire
operations.
Property protection issues between fire and containment lines of Korrumbyn
Creek/ Mount Warning road.
Far North Coast - Mt Warning - Tweed Ballina Byron
Published - 29/09/2003
CLARENCE VALLEY- Pristine Waters
Published - 29/09/2003
Pine Tree Ridge fire going with Halfway Creek, Kangaroo Creek being controlled
and all other fires contained. Conditions still remain very dry with reignitions
requiring regular patrols.
Crews continue to establish containment lines, monitor and patrol.
Local RFS crews are working on the fires with assistance from Clarence Valley to
Tenterfield.
· Phillips Creek Fire, 4809ha, being patrolled on State Forest and private
land. Fire is contained on all sectors. Start 8.9 on State Forest.
· Broadmeadows (Dalmorton), 180ha, going. Start 10/9. Cause spotover from fire
in Dalmorton State Forest. Aerial and vehicle based assessment of potential
control lines. Prepare control lines to mineral earth overnight. Backburn to
contain fire by this morning. Threat to small area of Guy Fawkes River NP until
suitable control options identified.
· Middle Creek, being controlled, 2100ha. Start 22/9.
· Freemans Fire, 570ha. Start 09/09/2003. Being patrolled.
· Pine Trees Fire, 130ha.Going. Start 26/09. Possible threat to Dalmorton SF .
Aerial observations of fire spread. When approaching Blacksmiths Shop Rd to the
north and Pools Rd to the east, proposed backburn off these tracks to contain
fire within perimeter.
· Wells Spur Fire, 516ha, being patrolled by NPWS.
· Moses Rock Fire, 465ha, being patrolled.
· Stockyard Fire. 530ha, being patrolled.
· Blackbutt, 300ha, being patrolled.
· Ramornie Station, 500ha, being patrolled.
· Neaves, being controlled. 10ha.
SOUTH COAST
Published - 29/09/2003
Most fires in the south coast were declared out after mild conditions on Sunday.
SHOALHAVEN
A fire at Ulladulla briefly threatened a caravan park at on the southern
headland on Saturday 27/9. The fire is now out with rain and hail and a wind
change experienced on the fire ground. 15 fire tankers were quickly on the scene
and manage to avert any property loss.
Bridge Ck (Kioloa) 460ha. Start 25/9. Is OUT.
BEGA
Wolumla Fire (Candello) - is OUT at 210ha on private property. Possibly started
by powerlines. Started 25/9.
Aragunnu Fire is contained within dozer line along the southern, western and
northern edge of the fire and wet gully line to the east. Mop up and black out
fire edge and hot spots within containment line.