Bushfire Assistance for Cessnock and Shoalhaven

BY LAURA D'AMICO

Disaster assistance is being provided for Cessnock and Port Stephens communities affected by the mid-August bushfires.

The fires, fuelled by strong seasonal winds, scorched through over 2000 hectares, with significant operations required from first responders from the RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW.

Assistance is being jointly provided by Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) in response to the bushfires, with assistance measures available for local Councils' clean up and restoration costs, as well as for eligible people whose homes and belongings were damaged.

The NDRRA will also be providing freight subsidies for primary producers and grants for eligible non-profit organisations.

To apply for assistance you can contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

Further information on disaster assistance and emergency information can be found at disasterassist.gov.au and emergency.nsw.gov.au.

Fears for Koala Population in wake of Salt Ash Bushfire

BY NADIA D'ANDREA

Koala rescue teams are awaiting the green light to go in and assess the amount of wildlife lost in the massive Salt Ash bushfire.

Care and Rescue Coordinator for Port Stephens Koalas, Simone Aurino said the bushfire has "burnt a great deal of primary Koala habitat."

The blaze has scorched through 2041 hectares, with the number of koalas lost expected to be relatively high.

"All we can do is depend on calls from the public when they see [injured] animals," said Ms Aurino.

One of the issues facing Port Stephens Koalas is where the animals will be released once rehabilitated.

"When you have an area like the Tilligerry and Tomaree peninsulas we've only got the habitat there. There is nothing else connecting it.

"It's going to be a quite an issue if we can get animals, where do we relocate them? The impact of these fires is going to have long-reaching ramifications."

If you discover an injured koala you are urged to contact the Port Stephens Koalas rescue hotline on  0418628483.

Picture from Port Stephens Examiner.

Salt Ash Bushfire Update

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have worked through the night to strengthen containment lines around the massive Salt Ash bushfire which has burnt out more than 2000 hectares.

The fire is currently listed at Advice level.

Crews have carried out backburning but remain on high alert ahead of another day of dry and windy conditions.

Despite the firestorm conditions over the weekend, a caravan is the only known property loss at this stage and there have been no reports of injuries.

Troy Gersbach from the Rural Fire Service says crews are bracing for another long day in the field, but the winds shouldn't be as strong.

"We're looking at south to southwesterly winds gusting up to 55 kilometres in some areas - that's not as strong as we had forecast Wednesday last week, where we saw gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour in some areas. It's still not ideal, especially when you have fire in the landscape, but being so dry as it is currently with no meaningful rainfall for some period of time and none on the forecast, we are still very much at a high alert," he said.

Advice From The RFS
People in the areas of Salt Ash, Oyster Cove, Tilligerry, Tanilba Bay, Mallabula and Lemon Tree Passage should continue to monitor the situation closely and be prepared to enact your Bush Fire Survival Plan.

Follow the advice of firefighters on the ground.

Other Information

• 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.

Firefighters Dealing With Firestorm Conditions On Saturday Night

UPDATE! Salt Ash Bushfire Downgraded

BY IAN CROUCH

4.15pm The RFS says fire crews have managed to bring the fire under control and it is about to be downgraded to Watch & Act.

4.00pm

Around 200 firefighters from the Rural Fire Service, Fire & Rescue NSW and National Parks are undertaking property protection in Rookes Road, Lemon Tree Passage Road and Brownes Road along with 5 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Around 70 properties are under threat and the RFS says properties in Rookes Road are being impacted by fire. Residents there have been advised to take shelter in a solid structure as the fire approaches. At this stage, there are no reports of property losses.

The fire has burnt through 1923 hectares and an Emergency Warning remains in place for the Salt Ash area with strong westerly winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour.

EARLIER

A Emergency Warning has been issued for the Salt Ash bushfire.

Strong westerly winds have whipped up the flames and the fire intensity has increased around Salt Ash.

The fire is now burning towards Rookes Road, Lemon Tree Passage Road and Brownes Road.

Embers may be blown well ahead of the fire, creating spot fires and threatening property before the main fire front arrives.

Lemon Tree Passage Road is now closed.

Emergency alert telephone messages have been sent to people in the area.

Advice From The Rural Fire Service
If you are in the Salt Ash area near Rookes Road, Lemon Tree Passage Road and Brownes Road take shelter as the fire approaches. It is too late to leave.

Take shelter in a solid structure to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

People in the areas of Tilligerry, Tanilba Bay, Mallabula and Lemon Tree Passage should continue to monitor the situation closely and be prepared to put your bush fire survival plan into action.
Follow the advice of firefighters on the ground.

Other Information

• 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.

Salt Ash Fire Update

BY IAN CROUCH

Conditions have eased overnight around Tanilba Bay, Lemon Tree Passage and Mallabula where a large bushfire threatened dozens of homes.

The fire has burnt through 1535 hectares and is currently listed at Advice level.

Crews have worked through the night to carry out tactical backburning along Lemon Tree Passage Road near Oyster Farm Road and Rutile Road near Tanilba Avenue. Backburning has also been carried out behind homes in Tilligerry Track, where more than 70 homes came under threat last night along with about a dozen homes and a caravan park in Oyster Farm Road. These backburning operations are continuing.

Lemon Tree Passage Road has been re-opened but motorists are advised to be aware of fire crews working in the area as well as smoke hazards.

There are currently 70 firefighters and 20 fire trucks from the RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW working on the fire ground. It's expected more resources will be tasked to the area throughout the day.

At the time of writing, (9.00am Sunday) air crews were completing their morning briefing prior to taking to the skies over the fire ground. Three waterbombing helicopters and a fixed-wind aircraft will support efforts on the ground to strengthen containment lines.

While the weather conditions are relatively calm at the moment, the RFS expects conditions to deteriorate as the day progresses. Currently, the winds are from the north-west and are gusting at times up to 40-50 kilometres per hour and the relative humidity is 40%. However, the winds are expected to pick up and swing around from the south-west during the morning and the forecast relative humidity is expected to drop to about 20% which will likely see the fire danger increase. A Very High Fire Danger is expected today ahead of continuing dry and windy conditions.

The RFS is advising residents to remain vigilant, continue to monitor the situation closely and take the advice of firefighters on the ground. Residents should also be prepared to initiate their Bushfire Survival Plan if the situation changes and, if they want to leave their homes, to do so early.

There are no reports of property damage, however a Building Impact Assessment Team is about to begin work.

Fire Lights Up The Night Sky Around Tanilba Bay. Picture: Port Stephens Examiner

Emergency Warning For Salt Ash Bushfire

BY IAN CROUCH

An Emergency Warning is in place for a bushfire at Salt Ash.

The fire is burning on the Tilligery Peninsula, north of Lemon Tree Passage Road.

So far, it has burnt through more than 860 hectares and is being fanned by strong northwesterly winds.

The fire has crossed Lemon Tree Passage Road  which remains closed to traffic.

Non-residents who have been in the area this morning for sporting activities are being urged to wait at the Tilligery RSL Sports Club on Lemon Tree Passage Road. The RFS says as soon as it is safe to do so, police will begin escorting those people out of the area.

While there are no properties under immediate threat and no evacuations planned at this stage for residents, the RFS says those residents who wish to leave their homes must do so immediately, however there is no access out of the peninsula via Lemon Tree Passage Road.

Residents along the Tilligery Track has been doorknocked and crews are on the ground ready to undertake property protection.

200 firefighters are on the ground along with 40 fire trucks, 3 helicopters and 1 fixed-wing aircraft.

A wind change has just started coming through from the south-west which is pushing the fire to the north-east.

The RFS says it's expected the fire intensity will subside at sundown, however they are monitoring the situation closely and will get word out immediately if the situation changes.

Please follow the directions and advice of police and firefighters on the ground.

Satellite Image Of Salt Ash Fire Picture: NSWRFS