NSW bushfires: Easing conditions put Eden families on standby to leave
Earlier this afternoon hundreds of residents taking shelter at Eden wharf were told by police to evacuate immediately and head to Merimbula before a huge fire hits the historic town. Since then, easing conditions have allowed them the choice to stay if they wish but to remain alert.
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Earlier this afternoon, Eden residents were been urged to leave the wharf and head to Merimbula before a fire hits the historic town.
Hundreds of residents who had evacuated to Eden Wharf last night have been told to leave.
Those who could drive took to the Princes Hwy while other were put on buses.
Residents received alerts about 7pm on Saturday to evacuate the town as a fast moving fire approached the town.
However easing conditions this afternoon have given those remaining the option to stay, but remain on alert for flare-ups which may require them to evacuate.
With light rain now falling in some parts of the state, there are no fires in Emergency status.
EERIE CONDITIONS IN EDEN
Last night hundreds of people bunkered down at the wharf including about 180 who slept inside three tugboats.
Many residents parked around the tugboats with the plan to use their water cannons to fight off any ember attacks.
Late last night children and women were bunkered down in tugboats, while men stood around parked cars on the Eden wharf.
They were waiting for the fire that ravaged Mallacoota on New Year’s Eve to reach them after destroying homes in small communities of Wonboyn and Kiah on Saturday evening.
Wonboyn RFS captain Craig Butt rang The Daily Telegraph at 3.30am and said his small town was “in a bad way”.
“It’s not good. We have lost a lot of homes,” he said.
Joy-Anne McGovern and her family evacuated from Kiah to Eden and were sleeping in a tugboat.
“Me and the kids left and the boys stayed, my husband and son stayed to defend our home,” she said.
“We lost our home. They got out but we lost our home.
“My daughter lost her home there too.”
RFS told Eden residents to evacuate their homes about 7pm.
The Eden RFS thought the fire was about 40km to the south at 11am but a strong southerly wind sent it on a fast and devastating path north.
The community had been on edge all summer knowing the Nadgee State Forest and Ben Boyd National Park were laden with dry ferns, fall trees and dead bush.
Eden RFS officer Mick Sawers said the situation changed about 4pm on Saturday.
“It was in the hands of the gods and it just flew up here,” he said.
Overnight his crews patrolled a black smoke and ash covered Eden searching for falling embers.
Those that didn’t have goggles could barely look outside without their eyes stinging.
If an ember attack was to hit the wharf, the water cannons on the tugboats would be used to put out any flames along the fingers.
Along the wharves there were rumours the fire had reached Boyd Town across the bar and burnt the Wood Chip Mill and Navy Ammunition Depot however this has not been confirmed.
By 7am it was still black as night with the sky covered in smoke and people still unable to leave the town of Eden.