Horrific scenes emerged over the weekend with bush and grass fires raging across the state.
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Bracing themselves for deteriorating weather conditions, 58 of the 700 volunteer firefighters battling 35 fires around New South Wales struggled to contain the flames raging eight kilometres south of Bundarra. The blaze had doubled in size on Sunday to wreak havoc to 10,130 hectares of land.
Inverell Police Inspector Rowan O’Brien said the fire was first reported at 2pm on Friday. “At this stage, we don’t believe that the fire was deliberately lit but we are investigating the circumstances,” he said.
District Manager of the NSW Rural Fire Service Tim Butcher said on Monday that the fire was burning in all directions, however he hoped that it would be controlled within 48 hours, weather permitting. “We are approaching containments,” he said. “We have crews of 58 firefighters and 20 trucks, three bulldozers and seven aircraft working on the fire.”
Mr Butcher said there were two fires in his district alone, and this had stretched resources with firefighters coming from as far as Dubbo and Young.
On Monday morning, activity focused on the western side of the foreground around Old Bundarra Road, to the north around Bundarra Road, to the south where the fire has entered the Ironbark Nature Reserve moving towards the Bonnay-Linton Road and to the south-east around Bakers Creek Road in Vermont.
Overnight firefighters supported by heavy plant worked to slow the spread and establish containment lines.
“Luckily, structures were not burnt and there has been no serious injury,” Mr Butcher said. “Unfortunately, there have been farmlands of value and pastures destroyed by the flames.”
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The plumes of smoke could be seen from as far as Tenterfield on Sunday, creating magnificent blood-red sunsets around the area.
In Tamworth, the crowds that gathered for the Tamworth Country Music Festival could smell the smoke. “It is not uncommon for drift to travel as far as 60km from the blaze,” Mr Butcher said. “The blaze could also result in the creation of fog in the morning.”
Total fire bans are in place for Monday in certain areas, with much of NSW experiencing hot and dry conditions.
Firefighters will continue to work with residents to prepare isolated rural properties in the area that may come under threat.