Bushfire downgraded to ‘advice’ level on northern beaches
Authorities have downgraded the threat level of an 80ha bushfire that had threatened homes and a retirement village on Sydney’s northern beaches on Saturday.
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An 80ha bushfire threatened homes and a retirement village on Sydney’s northern beaches on Saturday after a planned hazard reduction burn escaped containment lines.
NSW Rural Fire Service media manager Ben Shepherd said the planned burn at Meatworks Ave in Oxford Falls had jumped containment lines around 1.30pm.
An emergency warning was issued at 2.50pm, advising Cromer Heights residents in Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Ave, Kirrang Street that they were at risk, and to seek shelter as it was “too late to leave”.
Nearby residents in Narraweena were also warned to prepare for ember attack.
“Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front,” the RFS warned.
By 7pm, the threat had been downgraded to “advice” level, indicating there was no immediate danger, but that residents should stay up to date in case the situation changed.
More than 100 elderly residents at Levande Maybrook Retirement Village sought shelter inside the facility, which enacted its Bushfire Management Plan.
Residents remained in their units, or gathered together in a community centre inside the village’s main building, with village fire wardens doorknocking all units to pass on advice from the emergency services.
“I could see the flames, there were thick orange flames licking up out of the bush behind the village,” one resident, Dr Judy Ford, said.
“I went out at the right time to get supplies, I came back and decided to go to the shops and watch the flames from afar. In the meantime the fire grew, it became rampant.”
When Karen Sutton, husband Cameron and daughter Emma saw the emergency advice that the fire could be bearing down on their home on Bolta Pl, Cromer, they were frightened.
Ms Sutton said they had been watching the massive smoke plume gathering size for a couple of hours before her mobile phone pinged with the warning to shelter in their home.
“We were already getting anxious,” she said. “Then we started hearing lots of sirens and then the message that the fire was heading towards us.”
The Suttons quickly gathered their passports, photographs and jewellery and put them in a pile on the living room floor.
“And we got the dog and the budgie ready to go. Cameron put his best surfboards and guitars in the car,” she said.
“We hosed down the house. A few of the other families in the street, those with kids, left straight away. All the messages and the activity, it was a bit confusing.”
Jackson Rose, who lives in Brisbane Ave, Cromer Heights, also hurried home when his family told him the fire was coming.
“They got a message that it was too late to leave. We were all freaked out ... it was hectic.
“I couldn’t breathe properly for a while, the smoke was so thick.”
Beacon Hill resident Carl Burgmann 38, watched the plumes of smoke - which could be seen all over the city - from his front yard. He’s lived on the street for three years and said he’d never seen anything like it.
“I saw them back burning this morning about 10.30,” he said. “It was small insignificant at that stage.”
Smoke from the blaze could be seen all over the city, with a huge column visible even in Wolli Creek in the city’s south.
Firefighters were assisted by waterbombing aircraft to slow the spread of fire, with the warning level downgraded from emergency to “watch and act” just after 4.30pm.
EMERGENCY WARNING: Meatworks Fire, Northern Beaches LGA
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) September 21, 2024
The fire continues to burn in the vicinity of Cromer Heights. Those in the areas of Narraweena and Cromer should prepare for ember attack. For more information: https://t.co/9x2emEwFlx pic.twitter.com/qZVroFQdrI
NSW Ambulance confirmed multiple ambulances attended, but did not treat anyone for small inhalation or other injuries.
The fire danger rating for Sydney on Saturday was “high”, following on from a total fire ban across the region on Thursday. Sunday’s conditions were expected to be “moderate” in Sydney and the rest of the state, except for the Illawarra/ Shoalhaven with a high fire danger warning.
It comes amid concerns of a “problematic” bushfire season across NSW, with less than half the hazard reduction target set to be reached before the official Bush Fire Danger Period on October 1.
The total hazard reduction burns by the RFS from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 was 139,927 hectares – just 44 per cent of the 313,258 hectare target, due to windy, wet and warm weather.
In the three years prior, targets also fell well short with just 28 per cent of hazard reduction taking place in the 2022/23 financial year.
Earlier this month RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said the lack of rainfall could make for a problematic summer.
“If (the rainfall) remains minimal, as we get the warmer weather and the wind picks up, we will continue to see fires, and these fires will become increasingly difficult to control the warmer it gets,” he said.
“There’s so much fuel out there and it’s going to be problematic if it continues to dry out.”
“If (the rainfall) remains minimal, as we get the warmer weather and the wind picks up, we will continue to see fires, and these fires will become increasingly difficult to control the warmer it gets,” he said. “There’s so much fuel out there and it’s going to be problematic if it continues to dry out.”
EMERGENCY WARNING: Meatworks Fire, Northern Beaches LGA
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) September 21, 2024
A fire is burning near Oxford Falls, burning east towards Cromer Heights. If you are near Pinduro Pl, Jersey Pl, Maybrook Ave, Kirrang St, you are at risk. Seek shelter now. It is too late to leave. https://t.co/9x2emEwFlx pic.twitter.com/R3ADcmIxMc
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