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A bushfire at Currowan remains out-of-control and has burnt more than 4500 hectares since Tuesday, November 26 and a section 44 emergency declaration has been made.
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This allows firefighters to employ more resources.
Ongoing coverage
9am, Thursday, November 28: The Currowan fire is more than 4500 hectares, Shoalhaven RFS said. Firefighters undertook backburning to strengthen containment lines overnight, and fire activity eased this morning Fires Near Me said.
4pm: Shoalhaven Public Liaison Officer Jonty Bruce said if you're not prepared and don't feel safe, leaving early is the safest option. He said the Currowan fire was growing on all sides but it had not crossed the Clyde River. Firefighters would undertake "significant" back-burning overnight. He said there were some isolated rural properties on the western side of the Clyde River that could experience ember attacks and smoke overnight, though he did not expect it. He said fire danger would be very high on Friday with winds expected to pick up, mid-30s temperatures and low humidity.
3pm: A Mogood couple, Patricia and Malcolm Mason, with their Great Dane, Duke, left their Backhouse Road address before weather conditions worsened.
12.30pm: Shoalhaven Public Liaison Officer Jonty Bruce said winds would drift to Batemans Bay on Wednesday and coming days. The fire was sweeping across more than 2500 hectares, and growing. He said firefighters were strengthening containment lines ahead of forecast bad conditions on Friday. Aircraft, RFS, Forestry and National Parks firefighters were at the scene. He warned roads in the area might be closed at short notice if they weren't closed already.
11.05am: The Old Princes Highway at East Lynne remains closed, Shoalhaven City Council said.
8.40am: Fires Near Me said the Currowan fire continues to burn in the remote area of the Currowan State Forest, Shallow Crossing State Forest and Bimberamala National Park to the west of the Clyde River. The fire was burning in a north-easterly direction towards the area of Brooman. Overnight saw a reduction in fire activity and the immediate threat to properties ease. Burning embers could start spot fires ahead of the main firefront.
Eurobodalla RFS spokesman Marty Webster said today's focus for Eurobodalla Shire crews at the Nelligen fire was to consolidate containment lines, mop up and "blacking out" areas - making sure remaining hot spots were fully extinguished. He said volunteers were out all night. Crews were patrolling today and manning fire towers to spot any lightning strikes in the area, before conditions got worse. "Rather than taking our foot off the pedal, we continue to go hard," he said. He said conditions were "more benign" today and skies were clearer in the south.
Advice
- If you are in the area of Brooman and Shallow Crossing, monitor conditions and take advice from firefighters in the area.
- If you are in the area of the Currowan State Forest, Shallow Crossing State Forest and Bimberamala National Park, watch out for smoke and embers.
- Check and follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.
What's your plan?
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
- Continue to stay up to date with the bush fire situation by checking http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, 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.
- Check and follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.