BATHURST had a lucky escape after more than 1000 dry lightning strikes hit the Chifley Zone around 1pm on Monday, igniting fires across the region.
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Shortly after, NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters were scrambling to attend fires that had erupted at Mount Rankin, Peel, Sunny Corner, Winburndale, and at Glen Davis and the Wollemi National Park near Lithgow.
NSW Rural Fire Service Chifley Zone team manager Superintendent Tom Shirt said crews were stretched on Monday afternoon, and were unable to fully assess some of the fires in the hours after the storm had passed through.
A helicopter was sent to an out-of-control fire at Winburndale, and ground crews were at the site of other blazes across the region.
By lunchtime yesterday, crews had the upper hand on the Winburndale fire, according to RFS Chifley Zone fire mitigation officer Rebecca Phillips.
Crews and fire trucks were called in from across the region, as well as water bombing helicopters from as far away as Victoria.
Early yesterday a helicopter was sent to water bomb the then out of control Briar Lane fire at Mount Rankin.
RFS group officer Maurice McMillen said the fire was burning in very steep, inhospitable country.
The area was inaccessible to fire trucks, and ground crews had to walk almost a kilometre to the area to mop up the blaze and ensure it was completely extinguished.
By late yesterday, the one-hectare blaze had been brought under control.
The three fires in the Wollemi National Park had also been brought under control, including the one-hectare Bull Ring fire and the Black Cliff and Mount Mistake fires, which were both less than one hectare in size.
Remote area firefighters were winched down into the fire zone to fight the blaze and help direct water bombers.
Ms Phillips said overnight rain on Monday had been a welcome boost for firefighting efforts.
“I think the rain we had probably helped us a little bit. If we hadn’t had it I think we wouldn’t have gone so well [yesterday],” she said.
Ms Phillips said while rainfall was scattered, between six and 11 millimetres fell across the region’s fire areas.
Late yesterday all fires were under control, and remained on advice level with no immediate danger to lives or property.
Today’s temperature is predicted to be 28 degrees with a 40 per cent chance of around one millimetre of rain. Fire danger for Bathurst and the Central Ranges is very high today.