Firefighters slow spread as southerly change saves Braidwood

North Black Range Palerang fire on Friday evening. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW, Queanbeyan

Update – 5:30 am, Saturday 30 November: Firefighters have slowed the spread of the North Black Range Palerang fire before it reached Braidwood and continue working to protect properties in the area. A southerly change has moved the fire in a more northerly direction.

Update – 10:16 pm, Friday 29 November: As winds drop, there is some slight respite for the township of Braidwood overnight. RFS spokesman Darren Marks says while the fire as a whole is “completely uncontrolled”, fire crews are feeling slightly calmer about the town’s safety.

“We’ve been making Mt Gillamatong safe, putting containment lines in near the showground and approaching this on a piecemeal basis”, he told Region Media. “But we are not out of the woods by any means”.

Mr Marks said it would be more accurate to describe fires rather than a single fire, adding that the new front of attack is north of the town around the Warri Bridge and Kings Highway.

Update – 9:08 pm, Friday 29 November: In what’s being described as a potential worst case scenario, RFS spokesman Darren Marks says he is confident that firefighters can protect Braidwood as the town now comes under direct threat. As of 9 pm, the Black Range Palerang fire is now only hundreds of metres from the town outskirts.

Graders are currently putting in containment lines around the town and locals have been notified by text to be on the lookout for ember attacks and call 000. The town has been isolated by fire crews as roads into and out of the town are cut. The RFS says that it may be that spot fires have joined together, but its not possible to determine whether this is the main fire front or not.

Graders have also been deployed to put containment lines around the racecourse and Showgrounds, and crews have been deployed to protect large animals that were evacuated to the site.

Darren Marks has just told Region Media that fires are also attacking south of Braidwood around O’Briens Road.

Units have been deployed on property protection and firefighters from the South Coast, Illawarra, ACT and Snowy Monaro are all on scene.

If you are in Braidwood you should not attempt to leave. The town is a protection zone and all available forces have been deployed inside town and on the outskirts to protect the town.

Update – 8:24 pm, Friday 29 November: Local reports say that two disused boarding houses have been destroyed by fire and that properties on the Glenmore Road are at risk.

RFS crews are calling for support as the Black Range Palerang Fire approaches Braidwood township.

Update – 6:50 pm, Friday 29 November: The North Black Ridge Palerang fire is now spotting in large areas on the eastern side of the Tallaganda State Forest, with spot fires appearing on both sides of the Shoalhaven River and at Mulloon Creek.

Additional resources are being brought in to reinforce containment lines around Braidwood, where embers continue to fall in the town and the surrounding area.

The Kings Highway remains closed either side of Braidwood until authorities are comfortable that the fire is not going to cross the Highway.

West of Braidwood, people in Bombay and Little Bombay have been warned to shelter and take note of spot fires. NSW Rural Fire Service district officer Darren Marks said so long as people are well prepared, they are best to shelter as the fire approaches. It is too late to leave.

The NSW RFS says to protect yourself from the heat of the fire, wear protective clothing and footwear. Cover all exposed skin. If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

The Bureau of Meteorology says storms may affect the region on Saturday. Smoke is forecast to return overnight but is expected to clear later Saturday as a strong southerly change moves through.

Firefighters and aicraft are working hard to protect properties west of Braidwood. The North Black Range fire is spreading quickly, with numerous spot fires starting ahead of the main fire front. The fire is at Emergency Warning level. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/d4CbolPzqp

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 29, 2019

Update – 6:00 pm, Friday 29 November: The North Black Ridge Palerang fire front is indistinguishable as the fire embers spot into trees and shrubs on the eastern and northern sides of the Tallaganda State Forest.

Westerly winds are fanning fire activity which has increased on the northern side of the fire, with embers being blown towards the Butmaroo area. The fire is also burning in the areas of the Forbes Creek, Ralpine Valley, and Mount Palerang. Spot fires are also appearing along Farrington Road and Mulloon Road, west of the Shoalhaven River. The fire has not crossed the Shoalhaven River.

The North Black Ridge Palerang fire, west of Braidwood, and the Currowan fire, to the east. Photo: NSW RFS website

NSW Rural Fire Service district officer Darren Marks said for people in the areas of Bombay, Little Bombay, it is too late to leave their homes and they should take appropriate shelter.

The Kings Highway remains closed either side of Braidwood.

The Bureau of Meteorology reports that winds will turn easterly this evening, which may cause a smoke haze to again form towards Canberra. No rain is forecast until at least Sunday.

The North Black Range Fire in Tallaganda National Park. Photo: Tim Wimbourne.

Update – 4:40 pm, Friday 29 November: The Kings Highway has been closed between Mayfield Road and Northangera Rd. This is an area of about 10 kilometres either side of Braidwood.

The road will remain closed until 7:00 pm, with advice on further closures to come.

The fire front of the North Black Range, Palerang fire now covers 6782 hectares and has reached the eastern edge of the Tallaganda State Forest. It is moving east towards Bombay, Little Bombay and areas to the west of Braidwood.

Embers are being blown well ahead of the main fire front, threatening properties and creating spot fires well ahead of the main fire, with showering embers in Braidwood and Butmaroo.

There are also reports of embers falling in Majors Creek.

The fire is also burning in the areas of the Forbes Creek, Ralpine Valley and Mount Palerang.

The NSW Rural Fire Service is also concerned about a second fire, the Currowan Fire, covering 4793 hectares to the east of Braidwood, being controlled via Clyde Ridge Rd. This fire is at ‘advice’ level.

A relocation centre has been opened at Braidwood National Theatre Community Centre, 100 Wallace St, Braidwood. People are encouraged to register online at Register Find Reunite before attending evacuation centres. As a last resort, a neighbourhood safer place is at Ryrie Park, Corner of Wilson Street and Wallace Street, Braidwood.

2:30 pm, Friday, 29 November:

The bushfire burning in the Tallaganda National Park, west of Braidwood, has more than doubled in size on Friday and has been upgraded to emergency level, with the people advised to leave their homes immediately.

The NSW Rural Fire Service declared the North Black Range, Palerang blaze an emergency level fire just after 2:20 pm on Friday.

The fire is now almost 4000 hectares in size and out of control.

Residents in the areas of Bombay, Little Bombay and Farringdon Road to the north of Mount Creek are being advised to leave their homes and head towards Braidwood before it is too late to do so.

Residents in the area of Butmaroo are being advised to be alert for embers that can threaten property well ahead of the main fire front, and to know what to do if the fire threatens.

People in the areas of Bendoura, Forbes Creek and Hoskinstown should monitor conditions, and to know what to do if the fire threatens.

The RFS website is saying to “only stay and defend your property if you are both physically and mentally prepared”.

“Monitor conditions and take advice from firefighters in the area,” it says.

North Black Range Fire. Photo: Tim Wimbourne.

The fire started on Tuesday after a lightning strike and has steadily grown in hard-to-reach terrain in the Tallaganda National Park area.

Last night, it was a ‘watch and act’ fire before the RFS downgraded it overnight to ‘advice’ level.

The RFS says fire activity has increased on the eastern and northern sides of the fire, and it is burning towards Bombay and Little Bombay, and embers are being blown towards the Butmaroo area.

The fire is also burning in the areas of the Forbes Creek, Ralpine Valley and Mount Palerang.

The RFS says that under the forecast severe fire danger today, the fire will be difficult to control and may spread quickly.

“Embers may be blown well ahead of the main fire. This may see the fire threaten the areas of Bombay, Little Bombay, Bendoura, Forbes Creek and Butmaroo,” it says.

You can stay up to date on bush fires in your area by checking the NSW RFS website, listening to your local radio station, or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.

For information on road closures, check http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au. Roads may be closed without warning.

Photo from Little Bombay, at the Place of Peace Sanctuary outside Braidwood. Photo. Billie Dean.

Original Article published by Michael Weaver on The RiotACT.