Huge multi-agency response to bushfire burning in Bundjalung National Park near Evans Head in northern NSW on Tuesday
Firefighters tackling a large blaze burning in a national park in the state’s north have to contend with active ammo in the area used for Defence Force training. See pictures of the fire.
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Firefighters tackling a bushfire burning in Bundjalung National Park in the state’s north have to contend with “unexploded ordnance” in the area regularly used for military aircraft training.
The blaze stretching more than 550 hectares started south of Evans Head, about 41km south of Ballina, and is expected to take a multi-agency team the rest of the week to extinguish.
Photos show a large plume of smoke hanging over the small tourist town.
The Evans Head Air Weapons Range is a air gunnery, rocket and bombing range which was designated in 1949. and is consistently used for military aircraft training.
The Evans fire comes as large parts of NSW have been deemed to be at extreme fire risk as hot, dry and windy conditions worsen.
Total fire bans have been issued in the Hunter, Far South Coast, North West, Upper Central West Plains, Northern Slopes and greater Sydney as firefighters battle more than 90 bushfires statewide. Most of the North and Mid-North Coast is currently rated as facing high fire danger.
Rural Fire Service district manager Daniel Ainsworth said firefighters have been working with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Australian Defence Force to contain the fire.
“The fire has been affected by strong north-easterly winds so we’ve been using aircraft and ground crews to work on it,” he said.
In total, more than 15 firefighting crews, multiple ground vehicles and seven aircraft have been deployed.
Conditions have been difficult, with firefighters having to keep in mind a dangerous unexploded ordnance zone while battling strong northerly winds.
Unexploded Ordnance is a term for ammunition which has been fired but has not exploded as designed, according to the Department of Defence.
Mr Ainsworth said authorities have closed camping grounds to safeguard the public.
“We’ve closed Black Rocks camping areas as a precaution as the fire was heading in that direction,” he said.
“It will remain closed until the fire is extinguished.
“We’re asking residents and members of the public to stay away from the area and have your bushfire survival plan in place if you’re a resident of south Evans Head and The Gap.”
Mr Ainsworth urged residents and the general public to obey the directions of emergency services and to keep well clear of the firefighting area.
A National Parks spokesman said the response effort may be scaled up in coming days, given forecast conditions.
“NPWS has utilised an RFS-approved large air tanker and has deployed two water/retardant drops at the southern end,” he said.
“Crews are also implementing tactical small-scale backburning against containment lines. This is likely to continue into the evening.”
The northern part of Bundjalung National Park is closed, including Mibanbah Black Rocks Campground and Jerusalem Day Use Area.
Authorities have not reported any properties under threat.
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