A string of bush fires along the South Coast this week has marked an early start to what is shaping up to be a worrying fire season.
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As of yesterday afternoon, fire crews were working to bring blazes at Mount Kingiman, west of Burrill Lake, and Yankees Gap Road, Bemboka, under control.
Strike teams from Eurobodalla Rural Fire Service brigades and Fire and Rescue were sent to both blazes, helping defend properties from the flames.
Firefighters worked through the night on Wednesday, and easing conditions on Thursday helped crews at the Mount Kingiman fire slow its spread and consolidate containment lines around the blaze.
The fire, which yesterday had burnt through 1300 hectares of bush land, remained alight in the area of Woodstock. It was downgraded to a ‘Watch and Act’ status on Wednesday evening.
Yesterday morning, reports of property damage were confirmed; however, an RFS spokesperson said the full extent of the damage would not be known until assessment crews were able to investigate.
Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Inspector John Moore told Fairfax Media spot fires were a significant concern for the several hundred firefighters on the ground.
“The biggest problem was the spotting with the wind,” Inspector Moore said.
“It was a fast-moving bush fire that didn’t quite crown and moved in the direction of the wind.
“The greatest risk was within one kilometre of the main blaze and spotting further away.”
He said approximately 30 Fire and Rescue appliances from the South Coast, Southern Highlands and Sydney had been sent to the emergency.
He struggled to put into words the feeling on the fire ground.
“It was unbelievable,” Inspector Moore said.
“It’s dangerous and noisy and smoky.”
The cause of the fire was not yet known.
Meanwhile, a fire burning in the South East Forest National Park at Bemboka, had burnt through more than 3000 hectares on Thursday afternoon.
RFS Far South Coast spokesperson Marty Webster said the fire remained out of control yesterday afternoon and the alert level upgraded to a ‘Watch and Act’.
Mr Webster said warm and windy conditions caused flare ups and close to 70 firefighters were on the fire ground protecting properties.
He said a strike team, consisting of Eurobodalla Shire RFS and Fire and Rescue crews, had been sent to the blaze.
“We’re working on containing the fire where it is burning close to properties and ensuring we have property protection in place,” Mr Webster said.
Meanwhile, RFS crews were working with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to contain an out-of-control blaze in bush land near the Deua River Valley yesterday.
Mr Webster said containment was challenging due to the fire’s remote location.
A further fire at Potato Point Road at Bodalla was being patrolled yesterday after crews quickly got the 10 hectare blaze under control on Wednesday evening.