Emergency declared for Barkly local government area as fire threatens Tennant Creek
Authorities have issued an emergency declaration for Tennant Creek as a fire three times the size of the Australian Capital Territory continues to burn ferociously outside the town.
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An emergency declaration has been issued for Tennant Creek as a 10,000 sq km blaze burns through the Barkly region.
Police and emergency services have been granted additional powers in case the firefront crosses the river and burns into the regional town of 3000 people.
The emergency declaration covers the Barkly local government area and allows police to direct people from the area and take control of assets if needed.
However acting Chief Fire Officer Josh Fischer said authorities were “really confident” fire breaks would stop the blaze, which has already burnt more than a million hectares, from reaching Tennant Creek.
“It’s approximately 30km from Tennant Creek at this time,” he said at midday on Tuesday.
“A combination of ground-based burning, mineral earth control line establishment and aerial (bombing) … is all to ensure we can prevent this fire from spreading to Tennant Creek.”
“We’re really confident that the work that is happening on the ground with all these stakeholders is likely to see that fire hold east of the Gosse River.”
Mr Fischer said authorities were not looking at evacuations in the event of a fire passing through.
“It will be perfectly safe if you just move back one street away from any bushland, it will be safe there,” he said.
“We’ll continue to issue any warning and any upgrading messages to the community in the event that the fire does breach the control lines we’re establishing.”
Tennant Creek residents will be able to get information from the emergency services and Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin during a public meeting at 5pm, Tuesday at the Peko Rd Civic Hall.
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said there was “no issue” if people wanted to evacuate the town but warned those to pay attention to road closures.
“The watch and act is a level of preparedness and alertness as well, so take heed to that,” he said.
“If people feel like they are in a place that may be under threat or they feel better if they leave, they can leave, but travel safely on the roads and drive to the conditions.”
He said a forecasted wind change on Wednesday would bring a greater risk of the fire reaching Tennant Creek and while the fire was still out of control, containment lines had already proven to be “effective”.
A “watch and act” alert was still in place on Tuesday morning, warning people to immediately “take action” to protect their families and properties.
“The fire burning to the east of Tennant Creek threatens to cross containment lines on the western side of the fire,” the alert read.
“If the fire crosses the Gosse River, there will likely be a threat to the town of Tennant Creek.
“Bushfires NT and NT Fire and Rescue Service are working on fall back lines and contingencies around Tennant Creek.”
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Kate Worden said while the fire was still moving toward Tennant Creek, authorities were doing everything in their power to hold it back.
“Everyone’s getting behind the effort, we have an amazing collaboration between Bushfires NT and the NT Emergency Services … the Defence Force who are on the ground with excavators and bulldozers digging fire breaks in and around Tennant Creek,” she said on Tuesday.
“I want to particularly thank the pastoralists who are still out on the ground making sure none of the pastoral areas are affected.
“We have got aerial observation every day, we have got water bombers who are highly active with three going out continuously dropping about 3000 litres at a time.
“There’s some back burning also occurring to make sure that does not reach Tennant Creek, but it is extremely smoky, visibility is limited so I encourage people who don’t have to travel to stay put.
“We’re doing everything we can within our power, we have a strike force coming in on Wednesday from South Australia as well, everyone is getting involved.”
Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said on Monday evening the fire, which started the previous Monday, had burnt about 100,000sq km.
“The fire burning to the east is now about 60km away from Tennant Creek but the risk of that distance closing will be better understood (on Tuesday) with east to south-easterly winds increasing,” he said.
“On Wednesday a change in wind direction is anticipated, moving the fire west towards the Gosse River.”
Defence Force deployed as huge blaze rips through NT
MON, SEP 11
The Australian Defence Force is travelling to Tennant Creek to help protect the regional town from an enormous bushfire that has been burning for more than a week.
Incident Controller David Adam said Defence personnel and resources would be helping build fire breaks around the town of about 3000 people throughout Monday.
Mr Adam said the fire was about 65km away from Tennant Creek as of Monday 11am, but the risk of that distance closing would become more likely later this week.
“The Bureau is suggesting that we’re going to have some fairly gusty east, south-easterlies and wind will be increasing over that fire ground (across Monday and Tuesday),” he said.
It comes as a “watch and act” warning for Tennant Creek, issued on Sunday night, continues throughout Monday.
Bushfires NT issued the latest alert for the Barkly Complex about 12pm, warning conditions were changing and there was a “heightened level of threat”.
“The wind direction will change to a more easterly direction from Wednesday with those significant gusts and that’s where the risks will come from.
“If containment’s not achieved by Wednesday there’s potential then for significant impact on the Stuart Highway and Tennant Creek.”
Three aerial water bombers, two of which are from NSW, are already working to contain the fire which had burnt about 9300sq km since it started last Monday.
South Australian strike teams and tankers are also driving up to Tennant Creek to assist.
Mr Adam said he was unaware of any stock losses.
Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the situation had been “challenging” and crews and authorities had been working around the clock.
“Fatigue management is now a serious part of the work too, we need to make sure people are getting the work done but at the same time, managing their fatigue,” she said on Monday.
“We’re not exactly sure which way (the fire) will move because the weather is such a huge factor (but) we’re prepared for all of the different scenarios that could take place.”
Photographer Efsta Konidaris said residents were “on edge” in Tennant Creek as a huge bushfire continued to spread around the region.
The photographer, who captured powerful images of aircraft bombing the blaze with water, said it was smokey around town and some people had evacuated their homes as a precaution.
Residents have been urged to start taking action to protect their families and properties, as effective containment strategies were not in place for the entire perimeter of the fire.
“The fire burning to the east of Tennant Creek has grown in size during Sunday, September 10, crossing containment lines on the western side of the fire,” Bushfires NT said in an alert on Monday.
“The Watch and Act applies only to that section that is now burning through the Warumungu Aboriginal Land Trust in a north westerly direction towards Tennant Creek.
“On Sunday, the fire burnt over 60 kilometres in less than 24 hours. It is expected to spread at a similar rate on. If the fire crosses the Gosse River, there will be a threat to the town of Tennant Creek.
“Bushfires NT and NT Fire and Rescue Service are working on fall back lines and contingencies around Tennant Creek.
“For the safety of firefighting crews and other vehicles, drivers in the area are urged to slow down, turn on headlights and drive safely for the conditions.”
After working through the night, crews were waiting until sunrise Monday to fly over the scorched country and assess the fire’s movements.
Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said a separate blaze that broke out on the outskirts of Tennant Creek on Sunday was believed to have damaged some structures in the Rusty camp, with residents in nearby Kargaru camp forced to evacuate.
The fire was at a “watch and act” level throughout Sunday afternoon but was later downgraded to an “advice” level.
“The feeling on the ground is that people are concerned,” Mr Edgington said on Monday of the main fire.
“It really hit home that these fires are not that far from Tennant Creek with the fire breaking out (Sunday) – it certainly put people on alert to be ready for anything to transpire over the next few days.”
On Monday morning, separate “advice” alerts were issued for bushfires on the Barkly Highway at Epenarra, Tablelands and for a fire that had started on the Stuart Highway at Douglas Daly.
A 24-hour fire ban was also issued for the Darwin, Adelaide River, Gregory South-East and Barkly North fire weather forecast areas on Monday.
Tennant Creek fire starts alongside huge ‘uncontrolled’ front
SUN, SEP 10
A huge fire in the Northern Territory has burnt through more than 9300sq km, with firefighting resources deployed from South Australia and NSW to help battle the blaze.
The fire started on Monday morning in the Barkly region and has burnt thousands of kilometres over six days, with several other smaller fires also burning around Tennant Creek.
Meanwhile another bushfire – which appears to have claimed at least one structure already – has broken out in the regional town, with residents including Barkly Work Camp inmates prepared to evacuate if needed.
The fire near Rusty Camp and Peko Road started about 1.30pm Sunday and remained at a ‘watch and act’ emergency level at 4pm.
It was approaching the corrections facility as well as Bill Allen Lookout, Battery Hill Gold Mining and Heritage Centre and Kargaru Camp.
The latest Bushfires NT alert said the fire was spreading on one or more fronts while it was yet to be contained.
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said on Saturday night the main fire, to the east of Tennant Creek remained “large and uncontrolled”.
“This is a blaze with a fire edge extending hundreds of kilometres,” he said.
“Our thoughts and thanks are with the pastoralists who are working incredibly long hours protecting their property and stock, and we thank all the hard working frontline personnel leading, surveying and putting in mitigation strategies to minimise the impact.”
Mr Murphy said the NT emergency management council, which he leads alongside Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet chief executive Dr Frank Daly, would meet again on Sunday to reassess the “evolving situation”.
Extra resources have been requested, including two South Australian strike teams with tankers.
Three fire bombers are now operating in Tennant Creek, two of which have been sent from NSW.
The Barkly Highway was briefly reopened on Saturday night before closing again about 7am Sunday morning.
Authorities have urged any travel in the area to be delayed until conditions clear, with a health alert issued for Tennant Creek and surrounding areas impacted by smoke.
Tennant Creek residents are also urged to prepare for the fire.
Bureau of Meteorology advice suggested windy conditions in the region would ease on Wednesday.
On Saturday Bushfires NT declared the entire Northern Territory would be a fire danger area until March, right through the Top End wet season.
Fire ban as conditions ripe for catastrophic season
SAT, SEP 10
A fire ban has been declared for most of the Top End this weekend, with veteran firefighters warning conditions were ripe for 80 per cent of the NT to go up in flames this season.
On Saturday, Chief Fire Control Officer Tony Fuller declared a 24-hour fire ban period for Darwin, Adelaide River, Gregory South-East and Barkly North.
An Air quality health alert has been issued for the Barkly region due to the thick smoke blanketing the region.
It comes as Bushfires NT extended the fire danger area declaration over the entirety of the Northern Territory until the end of February.
Mr Fuller said the last time he saw fire condition this dangerous, more than 80 per cent of the Territory was burnt.
Mr Fuller said the coming season had similar conditions to the 2011-12 wildfires, with consecutive La Nina years and above average temperatures predicted.
“This could repeat again this season,” he said.
Mr Fuller urged landholders to reduce fuel loads and finalise their bushfire survival plans “before it’s too late”.
He said landowners should ensure they have a 4m minium firebreak and vegetation cut below 5cm around their property to best protect themselves, their land, and their community.
“Attempting to install firebreaks on days forecasted as extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating is too late.”
The fire danger period was extended from Saturday, September 9, 2023 to February 29, 2024, and would cover the entirety of the Territory.
Our @BushfiresNT volunteers are doing an incredible amount of work fighting a large bushfire spreading between the Barkly Homestead and Threeways Roadhouse.
— Steve Edgington MLA (@SteveEdgoMLA) September 8, 2023
Please note that if you are travelling in this area the #Barkly Highway may be closed at various time due to significant… pic.twitter.com/ZZCvlujcaC
Under the Bushfires Management Act 2016 all landholders must obtain a permit to burn.
“Individuals must ensure that any fires they ignite are thoroughly extinguished before leaving the area,” it said.
Bushfires NT warned breaches of the Act would result in “substantial penalties”.
The Environment Department also warned it would be a particularly dangerous Spring fire season.
It said huge vegetation loads across Central Australia could become dangerous kindling as drier, windier and hotter conditions were predicted for Barkly, Tanami, Alice Springs and Lassiter.
“These climatic conditions further exacerbate the bushfire risk in these areas,” the department said.
Bushfires NT urged residents to stay informed about fire danger ratings, and follow bushfire advice and warnings.
“Be prepared to implement your Bushfire Survival Plan when conditions deteriorate,” it said.
Territory Emergency Management Council monitoring ‘enormous’ blaze near Tennant Creek
FRI, SEP 9: An ”enormous” uncontrolled blaze is currently burning through 6000sq km of the Territory, closing the Barkly Highway and disrupting food supplies.
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has confirmed an Territory Emergency Management Council had been activated in response to multiple blazes, particularly the one edging towards Tennant Creek.
Mr Murphy confirmed a blaze was burning between the Stuart Highway and the Northern Territory-Queensland border up to the Barkly Highway — with the uncontrolled blaze burning across 6000 sqkm.
Mr Murphy said while there was “no imminent threat to life”, the response team was monitoring the forefront near Canteen Creek and Wutunugurra, Epenarra Station, with a combined population of around 300 people.
He said the blaze was around 90km east of Tennant Creek, but was moving closer to the town of 3000 people.
A court spokesman said the Tennant Creek Local Court registry was closed on Friday “as preparations are made in case they are affected by a bushfire”.
Mr Murphy said he had not ruled out an evacuation order for the communities potentially in the blaze’s path if conditions worsen.
“The Barkly Highway is now closed between Three Ways and the Barkly Homestead,” he said.
Mr Murphy said the 187km highway closure would be in place for at least two days, with thick smoke limiting visibility.
Mr Murphy said supply chains would be impacted “for the foreseeable future”, with the blaze stopping road trains into the Territory.
“It is a huge impact on food and supply lines into the Territory,” Mr Murphy said.
“Hopefully it’s only minimal but I think it’s a safe option at this point in time.”
Mr Murphy said the Bureau of Meteorology was advising the emergency response over the “extreme and catastrophic” fire weather conditions.
He said the wind intensity increased overnight, with 40 to 60km gusts blowing the fire to the north west.
Mr Murphy confirmed no structures had been lost, but one phone tower was destroyed cutting off come communications.
“There’s a lot of obviously barren ground out there,” he said.
He said the current risk was the blaze crossing the Barkly Highway and burning pastoral leases.
He said around 80,000 head of cattle were under threat with the dry woodlands, turpentine and spinifex grass loads potential as kindling to the flames.
“That’s obviously their livelihood and a big economical risk.” Mr Murphy said.
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Originally published as Emergency declared for Barkly local government area as fire threatens Tennant Creek
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