24 November 2009

Blue Mountains Bushfire Update - 24 November 2009



Information from the Blue Mountains Fire Control Centre on the bush fire situation at Bell and Hurley Heights Trail / Mount Hay Creek.

                                                                               
Overview

NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS), National Park & Wildlife Service and ACT Rural Fire Service fire fighters have been attending to a number of fires in remote and rugged terrain within the Blue Mountains and Wollemi National Parks started by lightning.
Inclement weather yesterday prevented any firefighting operations but the rain will assist in slowing any progress of fires that are still active.
Bungleboori Creek Fire is located 8km North of Mt Irvine in remote and rugged terrain and is 10 ha in size. Heavy water bombing on Sunday blackened the edge. There is currently no property under threat.
The Short Creek Fire is located 7km North of Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine and is approximately 30 ha in size. This fire is being contained.

The Nayook Fire is approximately 21km North of Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine in remote and rugged terrain and is approximately 1 ha in size.

The Bell Complex Fire consists of two fires which are now both contained. Crews continued to patrol the area.

The Hurley Heights Trail / Mount Hay Creek Fire is located 9km north of Hazelbrook and is approximately 2ha in size. There is no property under threat.

Garden of Stones, Newnes State Forest and Wollemi National Park remain closed due to bush fires in the area. Blue Mountains National Park is now open with the exception of trails on the northern side of Bells Line of Road.  For further information relating to National Parks and closures visit the NPWS website.

Strategy

As all fires are in remote areas aircraft deployment is necessary and will depend on favourable visibility. All fires will be flown today for reconnaissance and mapping.

Bungleboori Creek Fire. Remote Area Firefighting Crews will be deployed today to establish a helipad and continue with mopping up along the burnt edge.

The Nayook Fire. Aerial reconnaissance will continue today with the use of water bombing to slow the progression of the fire if appropriate.

The Short Creek Fire – Remote Area Fire Fighting Crews will be deployed to continue with mopping up the edges of the fire ground.



Hurley Heights Trail (Mount Hay Creek)/Mt Whaite– Local brigade crews will continue to patrol the fire ground.


The Bell Complex Fire - Crews will continue patrolling the fire ground and fire trails. Heavy equipment will be used to finalise cleaning/clearing perimeter tracks around Bell, Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine villages.


Weather Forecast


Tuesday:       Mostly cloudy with a shower or two. Maximum temperature 21°, winds from the SE around 30kph.
                Minimum relative humidity of 70%
Wednesday: Dry. Maximum temperature low to mid 20’s. Light, variable winds becoming moderate
                SE/NE in the afternoon.


Specific Fire Information

Being prepared this bush fire season is an important part of protecting your family and home from the impacts of bush fires. A key to being prepared is to understand the level of bush fire risk you and your property are exposed to and the ways you can reduce this risk. The NSW Rural Fire Service website has wide range of bush fire related information for members of the community. Prepare, Act, Survive.

This Section 44 also includes the Lithgow area. Unfortunately, the Lithgow area did not receive as much rain as the Blue Mountains and there are still several active fires in the area. Today, Blue Mountains based resources will commence relocation to Lithgow Fire Control Centre and management of all fires in Blue Mountains and Lithgow will commence this evening from Lithgow Fire Control Centre. Consequently, this will be the last Community Newsletter from the Blue Mountains Fire Control Centre. Updates on any fires still continuing in the Blue Mountains will be available on the RFS website.

Check the RFS website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au regularly for updates about fire.


Authorised By: Geoff Luscombe - Incident Controller

Cheers,
Kathleen Oakes