Battle to defend historic Kangaroo Valley in Southern Highlands

Fire fighters were last night preparing to defend the picturesque Southern Highlands village of Kangaroo Valley as a huge bushfire heads towards the area. Two NSW Fire and Rescue trucks are stationed on either side of the historic Hampden Bridge on Moss Vale Road.

Fire fighters were last night preparing to defend the picturesque Southern Highlands village of Kangaroo Valley as a huge bushfire heads towards the area.

Two NSW Fire and Rescue trucks are stationed on either side of the historic Hampden Bridge on Moss Vale Road tonight with the fire front burning less than 10 kilometres away.

The hardwood bridge, the main route connecting Kangaroo Valley with Mittagong to the north, has also been hosed down to protect against ember attacks.

Four NSW Fire and Rescue strike teams are in town, which is all but deserted after authorities urged locals earlier in the week to consider leaving.

Fire fighters on dousing historic Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley in water as fire approaches. Picture: Jeremy Piper

RFS Kangaroo Valley volunteer firefighter Mike Gorman said crews were also protecting two power stations nearby.

“We have had fire impact on the western side of Kangaroo Valley, about eight kilometres away from here,” he said on Saturday night.

“It has slowed down now but it was moving faster today. The worst part of the day in the sense of the wind is done.

RFS crews were also protecting two power stations nearby. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“So (the fire) might not get here but we won’t know until tomorrow.”

Mr Gorman said the Currawan fire, which threatened Nowra earlier in the day, exceeded expectations on how far he thought it would spread.

An emergency warning alert was issued for Kangaroo Valley about 9:30pm with the RFS urging residents to take shelter as it was too late to leave.

The huge bushfire, which has generated its own pyrocumulus cloud above the fire front, jumped the Kangaroo River and spread into the picturesque valley tonight.

It was pushed along by a strong southerly wind, with gusts of up to 80km/h, that swept across the east coast and the fire grounds late this afternoon.

Kangaroo Valley is home to about 900 residents but is a popular holiday destination in the Southern Highlands.

The town is empty tonight except for the local pub and a few homes, where residents opted to stay and take their chances. Moss Vale Road is closed.

Originally published as Battle to defend historic Kangaroo Valley in Southern Highlands