The value of having multiple Fire and Rescue NSW stations in the Nowra area was highlighted on Tuesday morning with crews called to two major incidents simultaneously.
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Around 7.30am crews from Fire and Rescue NSW Shoalhaven were called to the Manildra factory at Bomaderry for a reported flour fire.
The second pumper from the Fire and Rescue NSW Nowra also attended the scene and joined fire crews from Manildra in extinguishing the blaze in a flour bucket lift.
Two crews from the Hazmat Unit from Wollongong also attended the scene with firefighters spending a number of hours searching the flour mill to ensure there were no other outbreaks.
Up to 15 personnel scoured the five-storey plant to ensure it was safe.
Just before 8.30am crews were called to a second emergency after workmen ruptured a high pressure gas line with a crowbar in Wondalga Crescent adjacent to Nowra High School.
Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW Nowra and Berry attended the scene, with Moss Street between Wondalga Crescent and the roundabout in front of the school cordoned off and a safety exclusion zone put in place for about 45 minutes.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus used hoses to diffuse the escaping gas and assisted by police checked a number of nearby homes to ensure residents were not affected by the leak.
Ambulance NSW crews were also on stand-by in case of any possible emergency.
The gas authority isolated the gas supply and secured the scene.
As a precaution Nowra High students were evacuated from the area adjacent to Wondalga Crescent and moved to an isolated part of the school grounds.
The incident disrupted traffic around Nowra High School.
The road was reopened to traffic shortly after 9.20am.
