Fire fight continues at Jervis Bay

The fire has burnt about 626 hectares in the area of Wreck Bay Road and around the airstrip, south of the Jervis Bay Village. 

The fire has now been downgraded to ‘advice’ level after being listed at ‘emergency warning’ level earlier on Thursday. 

“Conditions have eased and there is no immediate threat to homes in the area,” the NSW Rural Fire Service said in its latest update at 8pm.

“Crews will be backburning around the fire where conditions allow, in an effort to contain the fire. You may see an increase in fire and smoke while backburning is carried out.”

Jervis Bay Road and Wreck Bay Road remain closed.

4.50pm: The bushfire at Jervis Bay has been downgraded from ‘emergency warning’ level to ‘watch and act’ but it remains out of control.

“The fire is burning in the area of Wreck Bay Road. It is spreading in a northerly direction towards Jervis Bay Village,” the NSW Rural Fire Service said in its latest update, at 4.50pm.

“Conditions are easing.

“If you are in the area of Jervis Bay Village, monitor the situation in case conditions change. If the fire impacts on your property, seek shelter to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.”

Firefighters and aircraft – including the Large Air Tanker, Thor – are working to slow the spread of the fire. Crews are stationed in Jervis Bay Village.

Jervis Bay Road and Wreck Bay Road remain closed.

Residents in the area of Wreck Bay Village will experience smoke and should monitor conditions, the RFS said.

3.25pm: A strike team of about 30 Rural Fire Service volunteers from the Illawarra has been sent to assist with an out-of-control bushfire burning at Jervis Bay on Thursday afternoon.

Residents of Jervis Bay Village have been told to seek shelter as the fire approaches the village from Summercloud Bay.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has issued an emergency warning over the fire which appeared to have been deliberately lit at multiple locations at 5am on Thursday.

In its latest update, issued at 3.17pm, the RFS said the bushfire – burning in the area of Summercloud Bay Road, south of Jervis Bay, – was out of control and moving north towards the village.

“The fire is burning in the area of Wreck Bay Road. It is spreading in a northerly direction towards Jervis Bay Village,” the RFS said.

“If you are in the area of Jervis Bay Village, seek shelter as the fire arrives. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.”

Firefighters and aircraft are working to slow the spread of the fire, with crews stationed in Jervis Bay Village.

Emergency Alert telephone warnings are being sent to people in the area.

The Large Air Tanker, Thor, has been deployed to the area., with retardant being used to help slow the spread of the fire.

Jervis Bay Road and Wreck Bay Road are closed.

Twenty-eight RFS members from the Bulli, Dapto, Mount Kembla, Oak Flats and Dunmore brigades left their respective stations on Thursday afternoon to assist with the fire fight.

The fire is moving swiftly through coastal heath and throwing up a large column of smoke.

Jervis Bay general store Damian Erwich said most people in the village had been out keeping a close eye on the fire.

“We’ve had some light rain and the wind is a bit calmer,” he said.

“We were a bit apprehensive but we’ve had firefighters here since Monday. So we’re not too fussed.”

If you are in the area of Jervis Bay Village, seek shelter as the fire arrives. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

If you are in the area of Wreck Bay Village, you will experience smoke. Monitor conditions.

Meanwhile, the Navy has evacuated non-essential and civilian staff from its HMAS Creswell base.