Local fire crews have been battling a fire west of Valla for over a week now, but with strong westerly winds predicted to subside soon, there is hope the end is in plain sight.
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The 'Valley Valley Trail Fire', six kilometres west of Valla in the Bollanolla Nature Reserve is said to have ignited from two separate points. It was called in on Sunday, August 16.
The cause of ignition is still undetermined. It was not a planned burn.
Between five and ten crews from the Rural Fire Service and National Parks have been "babysitting" the fire through the fierce winds and steep terrain.
"Strong winds have made it hard for crews on the ground to put in containment lines, with spots flaring up, and the additional hazard of falling trees," RFS Lower North Coast District Officer Christian Yanni said.
"But with the winds calming down we'll have the edges of the fire contained this week, hopefully."
Crews have been monitoring the fire as it moves slowly eastward down the mountain towards rural properties in Valla, but at this stage there are no properties under threat.
"And we don't anticipate there will be," District Officer Yanni said.
The fire is currently "being controlled" and has burned through 116 hectares.
With significantly more rainfall this year than before the last 'Fire Danger Period', the RFS was hopeful this year's fire period might just hold off a little longer.
But the gale force winds whipping through the Nambucca Valley over the past few days have worked to dry out the landscape just before the local Fire Danger Period is due to start, on September 1.
"Historically we do have an earlier fire season than the southern parts of the state," District Officer Yanni said.
Still, he said they are feeling more optimistic than this time last year, "on the whole".
But we're being mindful not to be complacent.
One key message they're hoping to spread in the lead-up to the permitted Fire Danger Period is to remind landholders that a 24 hour notice to neighbours and the RFS is still required before conducting burns on their properties.
The RFS requests anyone lighting up on their land to consistently monitor conditions and remain in control of their hazard reduction burns, after a couple of local burns, including one in Argents Hill, got away from landholders over the weekend.
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Mel Leigh Dee
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
