The Shoalhaven will experience very dangerous fire conditions tomorrow, with catastrophic fire danger forecast.
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RFS Fire Incident Controller Superintendent Mark Williams has told a community meeting at St Georges Basin on Friday afternoon that communities of St Georges Basin and Sanctuary Point could well be impacted by fire tomorrow.
Temperatures above 40 degrees and strong northwesterly winds forecast for tomorrow morning have the potential to push the fires, particularly the Tianjara fire, which is sitting to the west of the Princes Highway behind Wandandian towards the coast.
This may well see communities to the east of the highway impacted
"I advise, while you may be in an urban setting like Sanctuary Point or St Georges Basin and locales around, it is highly likely that you could come under impact by fire," he said.
"It is going to be a testing day on a lot of the fire grounds.
"We are expecting temperatures of 40 degrees, up to 46 on some fire grounds followed by a very strong and gusty southerly change mid morning.
"We will withdraw firefighters from fighting the blaze and will go into defensive property management in attempt to protect as much property as possible.
"We won't be engaging with the fires - we won't be putting firefighters in front of the fire to stop it."
He said the Tianjara fire, which is now down in the Tianjara Gorge has the potential to open up a vast area of wilderness country to the north and it is not inconceivable the fire could possibly continue north all the way to Yalwal.
To the south the fire at Currowan has jumped the Kings Highway and it has the potential to run all the way to Moruya.
Superintendent Williams' advice to home owners was simple - if you want to stay, ensure your property is well prepared. Have a bushfire survival plan in place and follow it.
If you are going to stay and defend properties, ensure you are also prepared mentally and physically for this incident.
If you are going to leave, leave early.
"Don't wait until there's smoke it's too late," he said.
"Have a bushfire survival plan in place and follow it. And know where you will go."
He even suggested that leaving tonight could be a good option.
Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
