Although now being brought under control, the Yarrabin fire near Numeralla is a nearby reminder of the ongoing threat of bushfires.
LOCAL residents who may be thinking we have escaped the threat of bushfire thanks to a little rain over the weekend can think again!
Although we enjoyed cooler temperatures and around 14mm of rain on Sunday and Monday morning, there is plenty of heat ahead, and the dangerous fire season continues.
The Bombala district has been extremely lucky so far, with few fire incidents this year compared to surrounding areas such as Cooma and Bega.
The Pameroo fire 5 kilometres east of Craigie was the most serious incident, but was contained within a very short period, burning out only eight hectares of land despite horrendous fire conditions.
The fire was reported on the evening of Tuesday, January 8, and ForestsNSW and the RFS responded immediately with various tankers, a helicopter, bulldozers and graders to bring the blaze under control.
Heavy machinery completed a track around the fire in under two hours, and although personnel worked at the site well into the next night, the blaze was considered under control throughout that time.
A small piece of pine plantation was affected, but it was chiefly grassland which was burnt out.
“Very quick detection allowed for a fast response, and the ability of our local fire services pulled it all together,” Monaro Regional Manager,
Forestry Corporation NSW, said.
“Residents should remember that even with the fire towers and other strategies we have in place to detect fires, nothing compares to the public calling in with information as soon as they notice something of concern.”
With temperatures forecast to reach 35°C later this week, and many weeks of summer remaining, residents are urged to remain vigilant and have their Bushfire Survival Plan ready.
For more information visit rfs.nsw.gov.au or call the Monaro Fire Control Centre on 6455 0466.
