NSW bushfires: State’s mid north coast cops brunt of flame fury
Firefighters north of Taree are working into the night battling to save the community of Killabakh and were even left defending the village’s fire station as an aggressive blaze ripped through about 6pm Tuesday night.
NSW
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Firefighters north of Taree are working throughout the night battling to save the community of Killabakh as the state’s bushfire D-Day took hold on the mid-north coast.
They were even left defending the village’s fire station as an aggressive blaze ripped through about 6pm Tuesday night.
It came as communities on the outskirts of Taree were forced to flee their homes with nothing but their clothes for the second day in a row.
Residents were frantically grabbing buckets and everything they could to save their homes. Some animals were seen left behind in the devastation, watching on as the blaze tore through.
Exhausted rural firefighters were left scrambling for water at the height of the chaos.
“We’re getting smashed from everywhere,” one told The Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile at Hillville, to the town’s west, flames licked at properties and circled homeowners who prepared for a frantic night of waiting to see what would be left standing.
In some cases, there were just metres between houses and raging blazes.
A RFS spokesman said three properties were damaged at Hillsville last night damaged but officials would have to wait until this morning to fully assess the devastation.
Vietnam veteran Rodney O’Regan battled flames circling his Hillville home for hours on his quad bike with hose in hand. The property was completely surrounded yesterday afternoon before exhausted firefighters came to his family’s aid.
Like many, Mr O’Regan just crossed his fingers and hoped for the best.
“I’ve slept about two to three hours a night this week,” he said. “I’m so lucky, I’ve got army medals and vintage cars in there. I have never seen it this bad.”
Residents Barry and Shellie Smith were preparing to take their dog Jed and bunker down under blankets in a nearby paddock last night.
Their home of 31 years remained under siege from two fires, one of which has been burning since last week. “It’s been circling us for days,” Mr Smith said. “If the wind picks up it is going to wipe us out.”
The couple looked on as the flames claimed a neighbour’s shed, just metres from their property.
The owner of that home is currently in Indonesia, with his elderly parents left to defend the house.
Mr Smith, 84, said he had built his home himself.
“A country like Australia and we can’t put out bushfires … they are so under resourced,” he said.
The town of Taree itself remains anxious about the possibility of the fiercest blaze to the south jumping the Manning River, with fires on its outskirts now slowly creeping in.
Killabakh residents forced to flee north of Taree last night will return this morning bracing for the worst.
Kelvin West was one of the brave homeowners who stared down the flames to protect his property.
“My cattle are in (the fire) and the cops said go in there at your own risk,” he said.
Freda Louizos was left terrified for her beloved pooch Jo Jo, which fled in terror when emergency crews raced into town.
When her four-legged friend returned, Ms Louizos broke into tears — one of the few happy moments in a town surrounded by a red wall last night.
Another resident, who only wished to be identified as Janet, was distraught when she returned to see her home surrounded by fire.
The village’s school hall and a number of properties upwind of the blaze were just a few of the structures not threatened going into the evening.
Nearby residents were side-by-side with firefighters, with a convoy of utes loaded up with water racing to join the efforts.
Last night officials remained on high alert, with southerly winds expected to whip up the already vicious flames.
Originally published as NSW bushfires: State’s mid north coast cops brunt of flame fury
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