Residents on the outskirts of Ballimore have been warned their lives and property could be in danger from a fire raging in the nearby Goonoo State Forest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The blaze jumped containment lines on the eastern side late yesterday afternoon, posing a possible threat to houses between Ballimore Road and the Golden Highway.
Dubbo police arrived at the homes of residents in the areas of Goan Creek Road, Jones' Road and Finley's Road when the fire situation detiorated yesterday.
Officers updated residents on the current situation and checked their homes for fire hazards and safety.
"The police were there as part of the many precautions we are taking to protect homes and property," State Forests fire manager Don Nicholson said.
"There are two types of planning, with close planning in the face of the fire and the current situation.
"But broader planning of the worst case scenario requires you to protect against what could happen.
"If conditions are right - and we are in for some more horrific days - then this fire could travel many kilometres in an hour."
Another 20 trucks and 200 firefighters were due to be brought in early this morning to battle the blaze and protect properties in the line of the fire.
Local Rural Fire Service superintendent John Jenks said the crews had been seconded from throughout the State to battle the effects strong north-westerly winds predicted for today.
"We need to shorten the length of shifts because the conditions are too extreme for our crews to be working 12 hours," he said.
"One member of our crews collapsed from heat exhaustion and had to be treated by ambulance personnel.
"Forty-two degree temperatures plus the heat of the fire just drains the body.
"These people are giving it everything they have in very nasty conditions and it looks like it could get worse."
The fire was started when a stolen car was torched in the forest on Monday, growing from 1000 hectares early yesterday morning to 1500 ha by the afternoon.
New containment lines were cut in concentric circles around the township of Ballimore and neighbouring rural landowners, creating a buffer against an oncoming run of fire.
"On Monday night we faced three separate runs, and we are expecting more problems with winds and temperatures pushing the fire along quickly," Mr Nicholson said.
Crews on the ground are being aided by two water bombing planes, with another three expected to arrive today.
An air attack supervisor in a helicopter has been guiding the planes towards the fire hot spots, and another chopper is on standby to help monitor the blaze.
The fire is the only one burning throughout the State which is usually at extreme fire danger during the summer months.
But RFS Commissioner Phil Koperberg warned residents to take extra care with the extreme weather conditions expected to continue for another three days.
"Temperatures in the 40s and winds gusting to 40km/h in some areas mean any fires that start have the potential to quickly develop into large bushfires," Mr Koperberg said.
Mr Koperberg said the next two months could be the most dangerous despite NSW's relatively cool summer.
"Recent rains across some parts of NSW have alleviated some of the bushfire risk until now," Mr Koperberg said.
"But January and February could prove to be difficult months if the hot, windy weather persists."