The Austinmer burn covers a two-hectare section of bushland off Railway Avenue, near Clowes Park.

Fire authorities have earmarked the site for hazard reduction burning for the past three years, but plans were stymied by unsuitable weather conditions and the behaviours of protected animals.

Steven Moran, team leader of Fire and Rescue NSW’s bushfire section, said a large amount of dry leaf matter had built up at the Austinmer site, at a rate of about 25 tonnes per hectare. 

“There is a narrow window we have for the opportunity to do these burns,” he said. 

”[Friday’s burn] will protect all the houses on Buttenshaw Drive.”

Corrimal, Kiama and Thirroul Fire and Rescue NSW trucks are attending, with RFS crews from Bulli and Austinmer.

The Appin burn, at Cataract Scout Park, covers 600 hectares of land. 

Illawarra Zone Rural Fire Service Superintendent Richard Cotterill said significant rain had prompted a lot of new growth in the bush during winter and autumn, contributing to the large amount of dry fuel now on the ground.

With a strong El Nino brewing in the pacific, firefighters were bracing for a hot, dry summer.

“Those two key things are fairly foreboding as far as the prediction of fire behaviour,” Supt Cotterill said.

Further hazard reduction burns are planned for Helensburgh (Friday afternoon and Saturday morning) and Stanwell Tops (Sunday).