Woodford: Backburn suspended as RFS patrols lightning fire

Crews continue to patrol a fire that sparked up overnight. The rain spoiled yesterday’s remarkable afternoon effort by firefighters to back burn 35 km in readiness for fire from the south.

The road leading into the L3 fire trail where lightning struck a tree. A sign thanking the RFS is visible in the background. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

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Heavy rain and a fire caused by a lightning strike have spoiled yesterday’s efforts by Blue Mountains firefighters to back burn another 25 km in readiness for the approaching Green Wattle Creek fire.

Lightning struck a tree along the Weroona Ave L3 fire trail shortly before midnight, causing it to break and set the surrounding bush alight.

“A very small fire was contained quickly and is now at patrol,” a Rural Fire Service spokesman said this morning.

Linden RFS crew members were continuing patrols of the L3 trail his afternoon. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

A Linden RFS crew member filling up during patrols of the L3 fire trail. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

Crews from Hazelbrook, Woodford and Linden were back at the site this morning to break up the tree and properly put it out, as fire had gone down the centre of the trunk and was protected from the rain.

Linden Rural Fire Brigade members patrolling the site for possible flare-ups this afternoon told The Blue Mountains News the fireground was about 20 sqm and the fire was now fully extinguished, dispelling earlier claims the fire was 2ha.

RFS are undertaking reconnaissance across the state to see if there are any other new fires that have started from lightning, or suspected lightning.

RFS Blue Mountains District have released this map outlining the backburn operation against Erskine Creek fire. The back burn intention is the black dotted line south of the Great Western Highway.

The Woodford lightning fire comes on the back of a remark by deputy incident controller of the Erskine Creek fire, David Crust, that only “inches of rain” would put a halt to an RFS strategic backburning operation stretching from Wentworth Falls to Lapstone.

Mr Crust last night told a packed Lawson community fire meeting that by 5pm about 35 kilometres of its planned 60 km defensive back burn had been completed, despite rain suspending morning burns.

The lightning fire in the L3 fire trail. Picture: Woodford Rural Fire Brigade

Last night’s heavy rains have further set back these operations.

Superintendent Greg Wardle, the RFS incident controller for the currently contained Ruined Castle, Grose Valley and Erskine Creek fires, on Monday told Wentworth Falls residents firefighters have three days of “benign weather” in which to do undertake these critical back burns.

Backburning operations along Bedford Creek Fire Trail. Picture: Woodford Rural Fire Brigade Facebook

Mr Crust said, “We think it’s achievable. We’re certainly very comfortable ... (but) there’s always risks.”

He said the backburns were being conducted along the local fire trail network to keep fires away from houses, the intent being to burn “kilometres deep” from the trails towards the Green Wattle Creek fires.

Lawson residents packed the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre last night to hear from firefighters about the fire coming from the south. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

He said eight on-call helicopters have been allocated to the incident and there will always been “eyes in the sky” on back burns.

Residents were urged to purchase radios with batteries in case of telecommunications issues during a declared bushfire emergency, and not to park their cars in front of fire hydrants.

Fire and Rescue NSW duty commander Superintendent Bruce Cameron, pictured at the FRNSW metro west 3 zone office, was among the attendees at the Lawson meeting. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

Blue Mountains state Labor MP and Lawson resident Trish Doyle with deputy incident controller David Crust at last night’s Lawson community fire meeting. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

“If you are using your hose for fire preparation or protection you are exempt from water restrictions,” assured Blue Mountains state MP and Lawson resident Trish Doyle, who also reminded residents to “look after each other” during these difficult times.

About 7.30pm yesterday Woodford Rural Fire Brigade posted on Facebook that the back burn along Bedford Creek Trail had gone in well: “Not too hot so that the damage to trees is minimal and embers are not created, and not too cool so that the materials are not actually burnt.”

Mayor Mark Greenhill addresses residents at the first of two community fire meetings held in the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre last night. To his right is an Auslan interpreter. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley, is today visiting Blue Mountains incident management teams and areas of the Gospers Mountain fire, Blackheath and Bilpin, where she will receive briefings from RFS incident controller Superintendent Karen Hodges and deputy incident controller, Inspector Rob Vinzenz.

“Across the globe, people have been shocked by the devastation that the recent fires have brought to individuals, families and communities,” Ms Beazley said.

RFS’ statewide bushfire impact assessment, as at January 7, 2020. Picture: NSW RFS Facebook

“Tragically, we have seen the loss of too many lives and homes across NSW and in neighbouring states,” said Ms Beazley.

Another community meeting will be held tonight at 6.30pm at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, 104-108 Macquarie Rd, Springwood, to prepare people for the fire coming up from the south and explain the backburning efforts.

When a tree is struck by lightning, one of the things it can do is explode. In this case, the main section that was hit...

Posted by Woodford Rural Fire Brigade on Tuesday, January 7, 2020