FIREFIGHTERS have been working overnight after lightning ignited five new fires in the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Chifley/Lithgow area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The lightning strikes occurred on Thursday afternoon which resulted in crews scattering across the zone to battle the blazes.
NSW RFS Operational Officer Brett Taylor said it was a very busy afternoon and evening for the volunteer firefighters.
“Firefighters have been working on many of them overnight and most are under control,” he said.
“Other fires may have been started by the lightning strikes and not yet detected.”
Mr Taylor has urged anyone in the region who spots an unattended fire to call triple-0 immediately.
The current fires burning in the Chifley/Lithgow area include:
- Bushfire at The Bridle Track, Hill End. Five hectares, out-of-control
- Bushfire at Stuarts Access Road, Bruinbun. One hectare, under control
- Bushfire at Willow Tree Lane, Mount Rankin. One hectare, under control
- Bushfire at Green Gully Road, Mount Rankin. One hectare, under control
- Bushfire at Reedy Creek, Turondale Road, Wattle Flat. One hectare, under control
- Bushfire at Freemantle Road, Gowan. 44 hectares, under control
- Bushfire in Capertee National Park, Lithgow. Under control
- Bushfire at Castlereagh Highway, Capertee. One hectare, under control
Meanwhile, a total fire ban remains in place for the third consecutive day in the Central Ranges.
Temperatures are predicted to reach up to 40 degrees in some parts of the region with a total fire ban in place on Friday, January 18 for the following council areas: Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon and Orange.
During a total fire ban fires cannot light outdoors, maintain or use a fire in the open, or to carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire.
Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
