‘We could lose everything’: Residents face the Dunns Creek fire

It’s going to be a sleepless night for residents in the path of the Dunns Creek bush fire, as the blaze spreads towards homes.

Residents in parts of Woodlands and Malua Bay have been advised to evacuate on September 13, with properties on Dunns Creek Road, Burri Road, Ivy Place, Worthy Drive, Grace Close and Ferndale Place under threat.

David Nowakowski, a Burri Road resident, said he would wait out the fire until it was absolutely necessary to leave.

“We’ve had small fires before, but nothing to this extent,” Mr Nowakowski told the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner.

“I’ve already packed. My wife and kids, they’ve gone.

“It’s just a wait-and-see game until we’re told to go.”

Mr Nowakowski said he felt safer being on the coast side of Burri Road and hoped the fire would not cross the gully onto his property.

“I feel a bit safer being on this side of the road, but I’m more worried about the embers and the wind change,” he said.

“It’s a pretty awful feeling knowing you could lose everything. That’s nature really. The firies are doing the best job they can do.”

Robert Broomham, also of Burri Road, said the fire had spread so quickly, he did not have time to pack.

“I’m a bit nervous, if it goes through here, it will burn everything out, there’s so much scrub,” Mr Broomham said.

“We’ve had them pretty close before, but this is the only time they’ve told us to evacuate.

“All you can do is run like hell.”