Conjola: Tree smoulders three months after bushfires
A south coast tree surgeon has captured footage of smoke rising from the remains of a burnt tree at Conjola, three months after bushfires tore through the town.
The South Coast News
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Three months after fire tore through Conjola Park and surrounding national park, there are still hot spots below the ground.
Tree surgeon Jesse Chinnock captured footage of smoke rising from the remains of a large, burnt tree while he was working in Conjola on April 2.
Since the fires broke out late last year on the south coast Mr Chinnock has shared footage of various jobs he’s been involved in either clearing trees fallen on roads or at risk near tracks in national parks.
In his latest video the tree surgeon says it’s “truly unbelievable” that fire lingers despite almost 400mm of rain falling on the area over February and March.
“The fire came through here on New Year’s Eve and we have still got, after all the rain we’ve had and everything, we have still got hot spots,” he says.
“We still have stuff that is on fire.”
On Tuesday, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) declared an end to the statutory Bush Fire Danger Period.
During the horrific summer in southern NSW 1523 homes, 200 facilities and 3405 outbuildings were decimated.
In statistics provided by the Shoalhaven RFS bushfires destroyed 448 homes in the Bega Valley, 501 in the Eurobodalla, 285 in the Shoalhaven and 193 in the Snowy Valleys.
Ten men from the south coast and Snowy Mountains died from December 31 to January 18 while either defending their homes from firestorms, suffering heart attacks or later succumbing to injuries.
Despite the bush fire danger period being declared over, NSW RFS advised the local community should not become complacent to the danger of bush fires as there were still large pockets of unburnt bush.
All residents are encouraged to take the opportunity of the cooler months to prepare their families and home now, ready for next fire season.
“The 2019/2020 bush fire season has been horrific, with significant impact in the Shoalhaven and across the state. I would like to acknowledge the extremely hard work and outstanding effort by all involved, be it from front line firefighters through to the essential support services and other agencies who all came together to combat the incident,” NSW RFS Superintendent Mark Williams said.
“I would also like to acknowledge the community who not only adhered to the advice and warnings that were issued but also have shown amazing support of our firefighters.”
The NSW RFS Bush Fire Danger Period runs from October 1 to March 31.