‘Beer fund’ set up for volunteers, fireys battling Barkly region bushfire

The Barkly council mayor is collecting some coin to treat dozens of tired fireys to a cold beer as conditions fanning the massive blaze ease. Here’s how you can chip in.

About $5000 has been put towards a “beer fund” established for dozens of firefighters, police and volunteers who have dropped everything to battle the Barkly bushfire.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin said all those who had been helping protect Tennant Creek and surrounding properties from the blaze would be welcome to join in at the Memorial Club from 4pm on Thursday.

“I’ve (contacted) mayors and politicians from around Australia, some are putting (in) 50 bucks,” he said.

“Some (fireys) have been working for a week or even longer and it’s time to have a rest, (especially) on R U OK? Day.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin has started a ‘beer fund’ for volunteers and others battling the Barkly bushfire.

“We want to think about the mental health of all of our heroes.

“We’ve got the crews to come in from all over to give them some respite.

“It will just be nice for them to know that there’ll be a beer waiting for them at the Memo Club.”

Mr McLaughlin said he had personally put $500 into the fund while the Memo Club had put in $250.

He said he was also setting up an online donations page to allow others around the Territory and Australia to chip in.

“I’m a can-do sort of person, we’ll work something (more formal) out … but at the moment we’re just asking anyone in town to buy some beers forward,” he said.

After thousands of dollars were raised on Thursday, Mr McLaughlin said the beer fund would be spread over a few days as authorities and volunteers would continue to battle the uncontrolled fire.

It comes as there were signs of some positive news for Tennant Creek residents, who woke up on Thursday to less windy conditions and clearer skies.

A wildfire in the Barkly region has burnt about 10,000sq km and remains out of control. Picture: Bushfires NT

“It’s probably the clearest it’s been through this whole ordeal … nice blue skies but there’s a tinge of smoke,” he said on Thursday morning.

“We don’t want to predict the future but we’re just hoping for the best and planning for the worst as normal.”

The last alert issued for the area was a “watch and act” at 5pm Wednesday, urging residents to take action to protect their lives and properties amid changing conditions.

On Tuesday afternoon the fire was just 30km from Tennant Creek before it crossed containment lines east of the Gosse River on Wednesday.

However Incident Controller Tony Fuller said on Thursday afternoon that breach had been contained.

“There is some increased fire activity (Thursday) morning as the winds fan the fire however at this time the fire is still within the containment lines,” he said about 1pm Thursday.

“A burning operation has commenced near Canteen Creek, with the assistance of machinery.

“The main focus is to maintain the western flank from impacting Tennant Creek. The fire still remains 30kms from the township.”

The fire, which started last Saturday, has burnt more than a million hectares – an area about five times the size of the ACT.

An emergency declaration was issued for the Barkly local government area on Tuesday, allowing authorities to order evacuations and take control of assets if necessary.

‘Just too fast’: 50km/hr winds push monster fire ‘rapidly’ toward town

A huge bushfire in the Northern Territory has breached containment lines and is moving “rapidly” after burning about a million hectares in 12 days.

Incident Controller Tony Fuller said the fire had crossed containment lines to the east of the Gosse River on Wednesday morning.

“Overnight we had some, what we thought were pretty good containment lines in, there was an aerial incendiary work done around Gosse River,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

“This morning, as the winds picked up, there was a containment line to the north that has been broken and the fire is rapidly going across some country that we’re unable to stop it on.

“There was aerial bombing, as well as some attempts for some machinery to get in front of it, but the fire is just running too fast … about five or six kilometres an hour.”

The huge Barkly fire breached containment lines east of the Gosse River on Wednesday, edging closer to Tennant Creek. Picture: Bushfires NT

Mr Fuller said efforts were continuing to stop the fire from reaching Tennant Creek amid wind speeds of up to 50km/hr.

He said the 12-day blaze had burned an area about five times the size of the ACT.

“The current projection is if it does breach any more containment lines, it will actually go more towards the Barkly Highway and Threeways,” he said.

He said a “finger” of fire to the southeast of the town was also travelling west at about the same speed, but it was not expected to directly impact the town “at this time”.

“There will be some impact at some stage on the Stuart Highway, likely with the Barkly Highway as well,” he said.

Australian Defence Force resources have moved into Tennant Creek to help authorities build fire breaks around the regional town. Picture: Facebook

“Depending on what activities get undertaken today, it may come pretty close to Tennant Creek itself.”

Mr Fuller said while he was aware police were looking at evacuating some remote outstation residents, evacuations in Tennant Creek were not currently being considered.

Some bulldozing machinery that had been helping bolster containment lines on Wednesday were also pulled out.

“Our concern is preservation of life first and that goes for our firefighters and our support staff, so they’ve been withdrawn from that direct line of fire,” he said.

“All it takes is one ember to be picked up by the wind and thrown over the containment line, and we’ve got a new fire.”

An aerial backburn using the Gosse River as a containment line. Picture: Bushfires NT

He said about 90 different staff were responding to the fire from a number of agencies.

A “watch and act” alert remained in place for the Barkly complex at 4pm Wednesday, urging residents to “take action now” to protect their lives and properties.

Footy grand finals in Tennant Creek have also been cancelled due to the emergency declaration issued in the Barkly local government area on Tuesday.

AFLNT general manager Sam Gibson said the big matches had been postponed for a week after receiving updates from local authorities.

“The health of players, fans, volunteers, staff and stakeholders is our biggest priority at all times,” Mr Gibson said.

“We know how important these matches are for teams across the region, the decision to postpone the matches has been made to ensure safety for all participants.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure we have the most accurate information to make any decisions about play.”