Extra firefighters called to battle McLaren Creek complex fire, near Karlu Karlu, Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
A fire danger period has been declared in the wake of a 4500 sq km bushfire burning in the Barkly region, with one homeowner describing the ‘intense’ blaze that came within metres of his home.
Alice Springs
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October 7, 12pm: An estimated 4500 sq km bushfire burning in the middle of the Northern Territory – which one local says came within metres of his home – may have originated from a series of “deliberately lit” fires.
In a Facebook post, Bushfires NT said three fires around McLaren Creek and Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve) had merged into “a single fire landscape which now covers an estimated 450,000ha (4500 sq km)”.
“Many of these fires are suspected to be deliberately lit on roadsides, which is simply unacceptable,” the post said.
From Monday, October 7, a fire danger period has been declared for “the majority of the Northern Territory (excluding Arnhem Land).
Central Australia will be a declared period until December 2, while in the Top End the declaration is in place until November 4.
Home owner David Curtis Snr, who lives 130km south of Tennant Creek behind the Devils Marbles Hotel, said the fire reached “about 100m” from his home, with no one injured.
“They’re very hot and intense fires,” he said.
“(But) all the assets around that area, the Devils Marbles hotel, have been saved and been protected.”
Devil Marbles Hotel manager Cindy Caldwell said she was “very grateful for the fireys because without them we wouldn’t be standing”.
She said Saturday morning they woke to the fire metres away from the hotel’s beer garden, with the fireys immediately jumping out of bed at 5am to battle the blaze.
Fireys travelled from Darwin, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, and even Victoria to help battle the blaze – and Ms Caldwell said the hotel was looking after them.
She said no one at the hotel had been injured as a result of the fires.
Mr Curtis suspected the fires could be deliberately lit, but said the upside was since they had burned through “you don’t have to worry about a bushfire anymore because all that undergrowth has been burnt out”.
Bushfires NT is warning people to be fire prepared, and urges anyone with information on deliberately lit bushfires to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
‘Complex’ fire threatens outback attraction, back-up crews sent in
October 6, 4pm: Darwin and Katherine fireys are racing to back up crews battling a complex fire near one of the Northern Territory’s most famous outback attractions
On Sunday, Bushfires NT confirmed the McLaren Creek ‘Complex’ fire was spreading on one or more fronts near the Karlu Karlu, Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, 105km south of Tennant Creek.
A spokesman said effective containment strategies were not in place for the entire fire front, and warned it would continue to burn for several days and impact communities and infrastructure in the area.
“Bushfires NT crews and volunteers continue to work in the area in an effort to control the fire with additional resources deployed from Darwin and Katherine to relieve fatigued firefighters,” he said.
“Heavy fuel loads and a lack of fire preparation and asset protection in areas is hampering efforts to contain the fire.”
Bushfires NT said fireys were backburning the area to secure assets, while an aerial survey had assessed the fire edge on Sunday morning.
The Central Australian community was warned the Stuart Highway would be impacted by the fire, causing intermittent road closures and delays.
The McLaren Creek Complex fire is a combination of three blazes, at Wycliffe Well, McLaren Creek, and Nguyarramini which merged on Saturday.
Fireys were called to actively protect the Devils Marbles Motel and other critical infrastructure on Friday and Saturday, and heavy machinery was used to cut fire breaks around Mugkarta, Wakurlpu, Kalanjari and Greenwood communities.
One Devils Marbles Hotel customer posted on Facebook they were preparing to get the call to evacuate, but luckily the wind pushed the blaze away from the outback hotel.
The NT Parks and Wildlife website confirmed the Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve and campground had been closed until at least Tuesday due to ongoing fire threats.
It comes as the executive director Bushfires NT and Acting Chief Fire Officer declared a fire danger period until November 3 for the Savanna Management Zone, which includes Borroloola, Katherine, Larrimah, Mataranka and Timber Creek Emergency Response Areas, and the Vernon Arafura Fire Management Zone.
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