Dapto residents have faced a nervous night in after fire came within 20 metres of their homes.
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Within hours of experts warning of the heightened fire risk posed by this year’s dry winter, flames took hold of an area of grassland near the Dapto rail corridor, Monday night.
Firebugs are believed responsible for the blaze, which began about 10.25pm at the back of homes on Avondale Road and Marshall Street.
It burned through about a quarter of a hectare of grass before it was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW’s Dapto crew.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokeswoman said firefighters arrived at 10.49pm and took less than 10 minutes to extinguish the fire.
The response came under the watch of one resident, who told the Mercury they worried overgrown shrubs and access issues would hinder the firefighting effort.
“The firies spent a good five minutes or more trying to unlock the gate to gain access. Had it been a hot, dry, windy night, properties and lives would have been at risk,” the resident said.
“The culprits are complete morons. Have some bloody foresight.”