Darwin River blaze continues to burn as investigators suspect fires were ‘deliberate’

A Darwin River home has been destroyed by a bushfire that investigators suspect was deliberately lit.

A large bushfire rips through Darwin River region on August 8, 2023. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A Darwin River resident’s home has been destroyed in bushfire allegedly lit by a firebug, as firefighters continue to battle multiple blazes across the Top End.

Bushfires NT said the fire continued to burn along Leonino Rd on Thursday morning, however fireys were now in control of the blaze.

“The fire is at a stage where firefighting resources are only required for patrol purposes and major reignition is unlikely,” a spokeswoman said.

Residents have been told to continue monitoring the situation and to be aware that smoke may impact their visibility.

It comes two days after Bushfires NT director Collene Bremner said a fire investigator had concluded the initial fire was deliberately lit.

“We suspect that it was lit off the roadside,” Ms Bremner said.

A Bushfires NT spokeswoman said one home had been lost, with a number of sheds also impacted by the blaze as of Thursday morning.

Firefighters are also managing a fire near Lake Bennett but the severity of that blaze has also died down.

Bushfires NT said fireys were only required for patrol purposes and a major reignition there was also unlikely.

However, smoke continues to impact visibility and drivers have been asked to slow down as firefighters may be close to the roadside.

A vehicle fire which caused flames to spread into bushland off the Stuart Highway was also occupying firefighters in Venn, 177km north of Alice Springs.

Meanwhile, fire crews are also managing a fire on multiple fronts at Cain Rd, Lambells Lagoon.

“Effective containment strategies are not in place for the entire perimeter,” a spokeswoman said.

A fire along Dick Ward Dr at Coconut Grove was active on Wednesday evening, but fireys were able to contain the blaze within two hours by 8pm.

Lake Bennett emergency bushfire warning downgraded

Fireys have downgraded their warnings over a raging bushfire near Lake Bennett, however property owners are still being cautioned to monitor the situation.

Bushfires NT issued a watch and act alert for the Heathers Lagoon Rd blaze on Wednesday, hours after reporting the blaze had reached a potentially life-threatening intensity.

At 12.20pm on Wednesday emergency services told those in the area to take immediate action to protect themselves from the bushfire.

“You may be in danger and need to take action immediately,” an alert said.

“Any delay now puts your life at risk.”

Emergency services warned people in the area to leave immediately, or shelter indoors if evacuation was not possible.

Two hour later, that warning was downgraded with property owners asked to actively monitor the changing situation.

Bushfires NT said the fire was still spreading on one or more fronts, and effective containment strategies were not in place for the entire perimeter.

The area is home to a number of residential structures adjacent to the nearby Lake Bennett Resort but a staff member at the business told this publication it was unthreatened.

Bushfires NT said smoke in the area could affect visibility and firefighting crews may be working close to the roadside.

Drivers in the area are urged to slow down, turn on headlights and drive safely for the conditions.

As of Wednesday afternoon there were active fires also burning at a number of Top End locations, including Katherine, Mataranka and Coolalinga.

A total fire ban remains in place for much of the Top End.

Bushfire NT investigators suspect life-threatening bushfire a ‘deliberate ignition’

A bushfire that forced rural residents to flee their homes on Tuesday is believed to have been deliberately lit.

Bushfires NT director Collene Bremner said a fire investigator attended the scene and as a result “we suspect that it was lit off the roadside”.

“We’ve certainly reported to police as a deliberate ignition, which just blows your mind that people continue to do that type of thing,” she told ABC Radio.

The blaze came as a total fire ban blanketed the Top End on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ms Bremner said it was “not uncommon” for bushfires to be deliberately lit.

“We would urge members of the public to report if they sight anybody,” she said.

“We have been getting more frequent reports of suspicious behaviour.”

Ms Bremner said someone standing outside of their car or driving along the edge of the bush “throwing burning things” out the window would be considered suspicious.

Fire investigators believe a bushfire in the Darwin River region was deliberately ignited. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Bremner said fire crews left the site about 2.30am Wednesday and had returned later in the morning.

She said the team would be looking for “hot spots” and remnant flames throughout the morning.

“They’ll report back in if everything’s okay before the winds start before 9am,” Ms Bremner said.

“We expect to drop the ‘watch and act’ to ‘advice’ but we’ll be on that fire ground for quite a while, I’d say for all of the morning.”

Darwin River bushfire downgraded to ‘advice’

Residents and businesses near a Darwin River bushfire have been told they can “resume normal activities” as the warning level downgrades to “advice”.

The latest alert, issued about 9am Wednesday, said the fire had become a “decreasing threat” although people were warned to expect poor visibility and crews patrolling the area.

“The fire is currently under controlled, residents should remain alert and monitor the situation for any changes,” the latest advice said.

“For the safety of firefighting crews and other vehicles, drivers in the area are urged to slow down, turn on headlights and drive safely for the conditions.”

The fire on Leonino Rd was first reported at 12.55pm on Tuesday, alongside a warning for residents to evacuate if safe to do so.

Emergency services were on-site with choppers and aircraft to combat the fire throughout the afternoon, dropping loads of water from above.

Bushfires NT volunteer firefighter Ray Nicholls was among the first at the scene about 1.05pm after hearing of the fire.

He said no lives or animals had been lost but the big issue was gaining access to properties while residents were at work.

Volunteer Firefighter Ray Nicholls at the scene as a large bush fire rips through Darwin River. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We got a call around 1pm of a fire and while we were travelling it through down the other side to Meade Rd,” Mr Nicholls said.

“It just took off completely, a lot of the people have now gone to work and there’s no one in the properties and we’ve got to work around their gates to get to the properties.

“We’ve done well, we’re on top of it, but it’s not yet over, we’re going to be here for a while and the main concern now is Mira Rd on the other side of Meade Rd.

“No one’s injured and there’s been no animals lost so far.”

Bushfires NT issued its highest level “emergency warning” earlier on Tuesday after the fire was first reported, saying residents should leave immediately if safe to do so or shelter indoors.

“A bushfire is running or contained under very high to extreme weather conditions,” a spokesman said.

Firebombing choppers were responding to the incident on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The risk of loss of life or threat to properties is almost certain or has occurred.

“Bushfires NT is primarily undertaking defensive strategies to protect lives and property.”

Cherry Niddrie dropped everything at work when her husband told her there was a fire in the area.

Fortunately he and their dog were all right, but the block around their home was up in flames.

“It’s super stressful, I dropped everything at work in the city to get out here,” Ms Niddrie said.

“He’s currently down there with our dog and no car so fingers crossed our place is safe.

“This level of flame is quite extreme, we’ve lived here 12 years and haven’t seen it this bad.”

Hot, dry conditions persisted across the region, with the mercury reaching 32C in Darwin River, coupled with 19km/hr winds.

Residents were stopped at a police checkpoint. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

While the Leonino Rd blaze is the fire of most concern, there are a number of other fires burning in surrounding areas, including at Litchfield Park Rd, Charlotte.

That fire started about 2pm Tuesday and is still active.

Another fire which started on Sunday at Cox Peninsula Rd, Berry Springs is also still listed as active.

Darwin River Tavern and supermarket general manager Tamra Forward said the fire was encroaching on the Darwin River Dam several kilometres from her premises.

Ms Forward said the blaze was being fanned by strong winds and she had seen helicopters and a water bomber deployed to fight the fire.

“We’re watching the fire in case the wind turns and it comes this way,” she said.

“At the moment there’s smoke and no fire but we’ll keep on watching to see if that changes.”

Meanwhile private contractors are understood to be bringing in earth moving equipment to help contain the blaze.