Firefighters and the community remain on standby for the worst as high temperatures continue a day after the mercury reached 43 degrees and the fire rating index pushed into the catastrophic band.
The reason for their vigilance was rammed home yesterday after a close call at Narromine.
Emergency crews and neighbours rushed to the aid of a local farm yesterday as “catastrophic” weather conditions saw a fire rip through a wheat paddock about 10 kilometres west of Narromine.
Taking no chances, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) also deployed an aircraft from Dubbo to douse the flames as the region’s fire index exceeded 100 and the fire warning level reached catastrophic for the first time.
With temperatures hovering around 44 degrees on the site, humidity extremely low and strong winds the fire soon reduced 25 hectares of wheat into a cindering black paddock.
However, the quick response by the RFS, nearby farmers and a local water trucking company saw the fire contained without injury or damage to machinery.
In Dubbo, a 16-year November temperature record was broken when the thermometer reached 43 degrees yesterday, and the conditions had fire authorities taking no chances.
With the catastrophic fire rating in place RFS Orana team officer Paul Whiteley said those who live in bushfire prone areas should consider leaving their homes early.
“When their assets are surrounded by trees and shrubs ... if a fire breaks out it is going to be difficult if not impossible to control,” he said.
“We will be using police to send out the message should we need to make evacuations in relation to a fire.”
According to National Parks and Wildlife area ranger Melanie Bannerman, national parks have closed their gates under the fire rating to ensure the safety of their workers and all members of the community.
“This will make sure that if there is a fire we don’t have to worry about finding people, we can just get stuck into the fire,” she said.
Ms Bannerman said national parks have undergone a number of hazard reduction procedures in preparation of the fire season.
“We have burnt around 650 to 700 hectares across four different reserves over the past year, including the Ganoo, Mogriguy, Coolbaggie and Dapper nature reserve,” she said.
“On top of that we have done our routine trail maintenance to ensure they are accessible in the incidence of a fire.”
The RFS held a meeting yesterday morning to form an incident management team involving the NSW Fire Brigade, National Parks and Wildlife and the RFS.
Officer Whiteley said with a multi-agency team in place and the fire control centre fully active they were more ready than ever.
“We have aircraft ready to respond if they are required and air base crew with a special trailer to fill aircraft with foam and special retardants,” he said.
“We have been given complete access to airstrips at Trangie, Wellington and Dubbo and will use whichever one is closest to where the incident is.
“We have been in contact with all three councils to confirm the availability of bulldozers, graders and water carriers.
“So all our planning has been done to respond with equipment and personnel as quickly as possible.”
Over the past week Officer Whiteley has urged the wider community not to take any risks.
“Please be aware and take extra caution when you are doing anything out in the open or anything that may create a spark,” he said.
Orana Local Area Command Inspector Rod Blackman joined in on emphasising the seriousness of such extreme conditions.
“I reiterate the dangers posed in terms of fire danger in these extreme conditions,” he said.
“Healthy fines can be imposed for things like throwing cigarette butts out of car windows and deliberately lit fires will be dealt with criminally.”
According to Weatherzone a trough of low pressure crossing the state will drop temperatures slightly today, but it will still be a hot weekend.
A more significant cool change will move through later on Sunday.
A total fire ban will remain in place today.
lucy.rowles@ruralpress.c om
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