The ingredients were all there – high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. As a result, fire dangers soared to extreme levels across the Illawarra on Sunday. At the time of writing late in the day, our region had been spared any major fire incidents.
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Here, most people were opting for the cool of a pool or the ocean, or found themselves inside under the air-conditioner.
However, the same couldn’t be said for Fire and Rescue NSW crews and NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers who were battling multiple bushfires on the Far South Coast.
An emergency warning was issued for a bushfire burning in the area of Tarraganda and Tathra as strong and gusty north-westerly winds, coupled with temperatures in the high 30s, fanned the flames.
That fire started in the area of Tarraganda, to the south-east of Bega, mid-afternoon.
It then crossed the Bega River and was impacting on properties around Thompson Drive in Tathra. Just before 4pm, Tathra residents were told it was too late to leave and to seek shelter if the fire hit.
Elsewhere in the area, a watch and act alert was issued for a bushfire burning near Kerrisons Lane and Northview Close at Bega. The Bega fire was burning close to isolated properties, but firefighters managed to slow its spread.
The fires were among seven reported in the area between Bega and Tathra on Sunday afternoon, prompting a mass response from emergency services.
Sunday’s temperatures soared to record-breaking highs for this time of year across the Illawarra. Down the coast, temperatures climbed to the high 30s in the Bega area during the afternoon.
So, if you thought it was hot just getting yourself from A to B during Sunday’s scorcher, spare a thought for those firefighters in full kit tackling intense flames.
We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: to all our emergency services personnel, thank you for putting your lives on the line in our communities’ times of need.
A NSW Rural Fire Service-issued total fire ban remained in place for the Illawarra/Shoalhaven until 11.59pm on Sunday. A Bureau of Meteorology fire weather warning also remained current.
It’s vital in conditions such as those experienced on Sunday that people heed the warnings from authorities. Sunday’s events are a timely reminder that the fire threat is still very real, even at this time of year, and you should always be prepared.