Emergency warning level rises for Tennant Creek residents as fast-moving bushfire breaks containment

The bushfire, uncharacteristically early in the season, is rich in fuel and advancing with fast winds towards the regional town of 3000.

Water bombers helping to douse the Tennant Creek bushfires at Battery Hill. Photos: Efsta Konidaris Photography

Tennant Creek residents have been warned to remain on high alert and some have been evacuated as an enormous fire threatens the country town.

Emergency warning levels were escalated to “watch and act” on Monday, as door-to-door visits began for residents of the town located 500km north of Alice Springs.

The fire front advanced to only 60km from the town centre, according to Bushfires NT.

50km/h winds are directing the fire front, with the region providing a rich amount of fuel for the blaze thanks to record high rains in the previous Summer.

According to Incident Controller David Adam, the fire was sitting at around 1000 square kilometres in coverage.

“At this stage we’ve got a task force en route from South Australia to volunteer,” Mr Adam said in a press conference.

“In the interim there’s a pretty heavy reliance on property owners, bushfires volunteers, the NT fire and rescue services volunteers as well as staff members from both fire services.”

“The fire burning to the east of Tennant Creek has grown in size during Sunday, September 10, crossing containment lines on the western side of the fire,” Bushfires NT said in an alert.

“The Watch and Act applies only to that section that is now burning through the Warumungu Aboriginal Land Trust in a north westerly direction towards Tennant Creek.

“If the fire crosses the Gosse River, there will be a threat to the town of Tennant Creek.”

The bushfire broke containment at 5:30pm on Sunday Night according to Mr Adam, with the new line sitting 50 km from Tennant Creek.

“Bushfires NT and NT Fire and Rescue Service are working on fall back lines and contingencies around Tennant Creek,” the statement reads.

“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.

“A fire continues on one or more fronts.

“Effective containment strategies are not in place for the entire perimeter.”

Bushfires NT has warned the Tennant Creek and surrounding areas would be impacted by heavy smoke from bushfires in the Barkly region.

Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin thanked the ‘Barkly Breeze’ for the respite from the fire, a regular south easterly breeze through late winter and early spring that helped mitigate the flames.

“There was a fire yesterday but in hindsight now, it’s actually good, because it’s created a bigger fire break,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“The smoke has dissipated but if the wind does pick up tonight or tomorrow, it could be worrying, (but) we don’t want to say the word evacuation at the moment.”

The Darwin, Adelaide River, Gregory South-East and Barkly North fire weather forecast areas are under total fire ban until Wednesday at the earliest.

No unnecessary travel in the region is advised as smoke risk grows and highway access is changed rapidly depending on safety recommendations.

The Barkly Highway between Barkly Homestead and Threeways Roadhouse was closed and reopened in response to the bushfire.

Tennant Creek has a population of around 3000 residents, mainly consisting of local pastoral cattle farming, and zinc and copper mining.

Chief Fire Control Officer Tony Fuller urged residents to make sure their emergency fire plan remains current, and begin taking action.

Residents should ensure they have a four metre firebreak around property and vegetation isn’t left overgrown.

By Saturday evening the main blaze had burnt more than 9300 square kilometres, with extreme fire weather forecast for the rest of the week.

Three water bomber planes and two helicopters have been dispatched by local fire services to help contain the bushfire, as the Australian Defence Force dispatched two bulldozers to assist in the construction of new firebreaks.

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy estimated that 80,000 cattle are under threat.

“The big worry is the cattle industry, that’s why all the stations are out there fighting, because there’s about a billion dollars worth of cattle in the Barkly,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“We’re always worried about our bovine friends”

A backlog of cattle built up in the region as farmers waited for exports to Indonesia to re-open, following concerns of lumpy skin disease in some herds.

NT Courts have closed the Tennant Creek Local Court Registry due to the blaze, with court proceedings continuing through video calls into the Alice Springs Local Court.

Local resident Kylie, who requested her surname not be used, was unsure of how to act in the coming days.

“I can’t seem to secure information as to exactly how far away the fire is,” Kylie, who manages the Tennant Creek Caravan Park, said.

“Just trying to contain (the bushfire) has been an issue.”

Yesterday the Kargaru Land and Environment Centre and the Battery Hill Gold Mining and Heritage Centre were evacuated, but those displaced have since returned.