AS crews struggled to contain an out-of-control blaze burning near Bathurst on Wednesday, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) commissioner stepped in to declare it a “bushfire emergency”.
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The 269-hectare bushfire, burning off Freemantle Road at Gowan, flared up on Tuesday morning with crews from across the district tasked to the scene.
Originally, the fire started on Saturday afternoon after a property owner accidentally created a spark while welding.
The initial blaze was 78 hectares and was contained by firefighters on Sunday, before hot, windy weather reignited it on Tuesday.
In just one hour it tripled in size to 217 hectares.
On Wednesday, hot, windy weather fanned the blaze with wind gusts of up to 54km/h spreading the fire even further.
Just before noon, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons stepped in and invoked Section 44 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 to declare it a “bushfire emergency”.
An RFS spokesman said the declaration of a Section 44 allows more resources from outside the local district to be deployed.
Late on Wednesday, more than 90 firefighters on the ground were working in challenging conditions to contain the fire supported by five water-bombing aircraft, including the large and very large air tankers.
- RFS spokesman
“Late on Wednesday, more than 90 firefighters on the ground were working in challenging conditions to contain the fire supported by five water-bombing aircraft, including the large and very large air tankers,” he said.
One isolated property was close to the fire, however, no properties were under immediate threat, the spokesman said.
Just after 4pm on Wednesday, the RFS listed the fire as ‘being controlled’.
RFS Chifley Team group captain Maurie McMillen said firefighters were working towards getting the blaze contained.
“It is being contained and we’re working to deepen the containment lines,” he said.
However, operational staff had concerns late Wednesday than an afternoon weather change could worsen conditions for crews.
“There’s supposed to be a change coming through, we just don’t know what it’s going to bring,” group captain McMillen said.
“It could mean increased winds and a drop in the temperatures.
“The winds are playing devil’s advocate with the fire.”
Temperatures in Bathurst are predicted to drop dramatically on Thursday with a top of 30 degrees expected and a high fire danger.
- Call triple-0 to report and unattended fires.