Weeks-long effort to contain two fires threatening Myall Coast

TIRELESS efforts by volunteer and professional agencies have contained two fires along the Myall Coast – one at North Arm Cove and the other just north of Karuah.

The Karuah fire was started weeks ago in difficult mountainous terrain by a dry lighting strike, and has already resulted in several backburning operations to herd it towards the river.

As of Sunday 16 November, the fire covered 176 hectares with the southern edge only 3.5kms from the Karuah township.

The North Arm Cove fire, still suspected to be caused by arson, had spread to 788 hectares, covering a swathe of the North Arm Cove paper subdivision and expanding towards Carrington, Tahlee, Yalimbah Creek and the Pacific Highway.

Both fires were rated as “under control” on Sunday night.

“The Hazard Reduction burns were completed on Saturday night, so the fire is now contained, but the wind will test that containment,” North Arm Cove RFS Captain Moller told News Of The Area.

Volunteer RFS crews from North Arm Cove, Pindimar/Tea Gardens, and several other brigades, were joined by fire units from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to combat the blazes, alongside heavy air support.

Aerial incendiaries were used to burn bushland from the top of peaks as fires move more slowly downhill.

NPWS has engaged bulldozers to clear fire trails through the paper subdivision so firefighting vehicles can make it through, while the big Mid Coast bulk water carrier has been making repeated runs to the town water supplies in Karuah and Tea Gardens, to keep the firefighting vehicles supplied.

At times, the smoke plumes were visible kilometres away, with the clouds drifting out to cover the headlands on the southern side of Port Stephens.

Several residents in and around North Arm Cove and Bundabah could see flames from their backyards.

In Karuah, access to the football field was restricted while aerial units, including the big chinooks, used the field as a staging area.

There were unconfirmed reports that backburning operations had to move around bush encampments prompting concerns there may be unaccounted people in the area.

A welcome change on Saturday evening, 15 November, brought a few millimetres of rain, but it was not enough to extinguish the fires outright.

“Crews have worked to strengthen containment lines and will continue to do so over coming days, backburning may be undertaken when conditions allow – if required,” the NSW RFS advised.

“Residents in the area may notice an increase of smoke and fire activity when these burns are underway.

“If you are driving in the area, please drive to the conditions and take directions from firefighters.

“Roads may be closed without warning due to fire activity.”

Everyone is advised to download and pay attention to the Hazards Near Me app.

By Thomas O’KEEFE