Salt Ash fires ease but RFS warns not to be complacent

NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) reported that overnight Saturday almost 50 firefighters from the NSWRFS and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) continued to work across the fire ground as they strengthened and consolidated containment lines.

There also continued to be some fire activity on the northern side of the fire to the east of Pacific Dunes on Sunday afternoon.

“This is likely to continue so residents may notice smoke and fire as a result of this activity,” an NSWRFS spokesperson said.

On Sunday firefighters will continued to mop and black out and hot spots and patrol the perimeter of the fire.

Light to moderate winds are forecast which will assist crews in containing the fire.

On Sunday afternoon NSW RFS reported conditions starting to ease however advised residents in the area to continue to monitor conditions.

All roads in the area are now open, however residents should be patient, follow the advice and direction from emergency services personnel.

Strong winds on Thursday and Friday had spurred the blaze on, leaving more than 180 firefighters on their toes as properties at Lemon Tree Passage Road and Rookes Road came under threat. 

At Salt Ash Avenue on Thursday, a shipping container and several cars in a property’s backyard were devoured by the flames. 

Winds that reached more than 90km/h on Friday.

They continually changed direction resulting in firefighters having to react quickly as the blaze spontaneously changed moving quickly towards homes without warning. 

As conditions eased on Friday night they began controlling the blaze, downgrading the threat level as the winds dropped.

It was the second bushfire to threaten land at Salt Ash this year after an August blaze came at Rookes Road from the opposite side to Friday’s flames. Separately, firefighters had also controlled a bushfire that burned 49 hectares at Killingworth by Sunday morning.