Batemans Bay RFS has faced a busy weekend, helping contain a fire near Currowan using a back-burning method, and attending a pile burn "explosion" near Nelligen.
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Just after 10.30pm on Friday, June 14, RFS crews from Batemans Bay, Nelligen and Long Beach RFS attended a "moderate-sized" bush fire near Western Distributor Rd, Currowan. A Batemans Bay RFS spokesperson said crews worked to contain the fire until just after 2am that night.
He said crews faced a difficult-to-access area that was close proximity to rural properties.
Crews returned on Saturday to assist Forestry - the responsible firefighting agency for the State Forest - in containing the fire, which was slowly moving down the hill, until 6.30pm.
The spokesperson said major planning was involved in containing the fire on Sunday, June 16.
He said crews could not contain the head of the fire with trucks because there were not enough tracks around fire and the terrain was too hilly and steep.
The fire was also too large fire for walking crews to contain with "hand tools".
A back-burning method was consequently used to remove all fuel for the fire to burn.
He said the light rain the area received over the weekend did not affect the fire.
"At this stage, the cause of the fire is undetermined," the spokesperson said.
He said the fire was expected to be fully-extinguished by Monday, June 17, after crews patrol the edge of containment lines.
He said there were "no threats to assets in that area".
"Explosion" south of Nelligen
On Saturday, June 15, Batemans Bay crews responded to reports of an "explosion/fire" just south of Nelligen.
A Batemans Bay RFS spokesperson said further information was given and crews were advised it was a pile burn.
"Our crew spoke to the resident and informed him of the correct procedure to undertake when conducting a pile burn," the spokesperson said.
"We strongly urge everyone to use extreme caution when conducting pile burns as it is still very dry in our area.
"The fire we attended last night and today clearly demonstrated that bushfires can and will still burn well, even in Winter under these drier than average conditions."
The spokesperson said to notify Fire Control (Far South Coast office 4474 2855) and neighbours at least 24 hours before the pile burn and to lighten cautiously.
He said to make sure to have a water supply nearby and check the RFS website beforehand.
