North-easterly winds mercifully held up the Kian Rd fire front that was burning eastwards towards Macksville on Tuesday with Congarinni and Warrell Creek in its path.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW RFS Lower North Coast Superintendent Lachlann Ison, said the wind reduced the capacity of the fire to run in that particular direction however the north-westerly front continued to burn down into Buckrabendinni and the south-westerly edge towards Taylors Arm.
"That was a relief however we now have three days of relatively high fire danger ahead of us before it heats up again on the weekend," Supt. Ison said.
"We will try and get on the front foot now working on broader containment lines with dozers and back burning. That will be supplemented by community engagement, which will include targeted door knocking in some areas and possibly some assistance with property protection."
He said while fire crews were weary, the addition of interstate strike teams from Victoria and Tasmania helped.
"All four agencies in NSW (State Forests, NPWS, RFS and Fire and Rescue) have been working together ... we have been fighting fires in the region now since August."
In response to calls to "send in the army", Supt. Ison said that safety was always paramount and while the army could offer tools and equipment to support operations, it had no role in mainstream firefighting.
He said the region had nine helicopters and two fixed wing planes (that could each carry 1000 litres) in its airborne 'arsenal', all of which were unable to be airborne until after lunch on Tuesday due to the thick smoke.
"We also have one large air tanker (LAT) based at Coffs Harbour plus two at Richmond that we can call on - they can be here within half an hour. The LATs carry 15,000 litres of water or fire retardant and they are best suited to assisting in urban interface situations. They are not so good in forests."
The Guardian News is still awaiting information regarding the number of properties lost, however we have been told that RFS's Building Assessment Team are in the Taylors Arm area today can have visited South Arm. We can confirm that Utungun, Talarm and South Arm Halls are all in tact.
The shire's main evacuation centre remains open at Ridge St, Nambucca Heads as does the animal evacuation centre at the Macksville Showground.
Also making the news:
Ute Schulenberg
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
