A bushfire near Camden has been downgraded to Watch and Act after a southerly wind change crossed the fireground.
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While fire activity has eased, the RFS says the blaze continues threatening the areas of Nattai, Orangeville and Werombi and the fire is spreading towards the areas of Theresa Park and Brownlow Hills.
Firefighters are working to protect property and establish containment lines in the area.
Backburning operations have been conducted to the north of the fire near Silverdale and Warrangamba overnight.
Advice from the RFS:
- If you are in the areas of Nattai Village, Oakdale, Belimbla Park, Werombi, Orangeville, Theresa Park, Brownlow Park, monitor the changing conditions and know what you will do if the fire threatens.
- If you are in surrounding areas including Silverdale, Warragamba, The Oaks, Lakesland, Thirlmere, Buxton, Balmoral, Bargo and Hill Top, monitor the conditions. Know what you will do if the fire threatens.
- Follow the advice of firefighters in the area.
If you are threatened by fire
- Do not be in the path of the fire.
- Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. Wear protective clothing and footwear. Cover all exposed skin.
- If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000).
Evacuation Centre
- Narellan Community Health Centre (open to 7pm) - 14 Queen Street, Narellan.
- For a list of evacuation centres visit Disaster Assistance.
- People are encouraged to register online at Register Find Reunite before attending evacuation centres.
- For a list of school closures visit Department of Education.
Other Information
- People with respiratory conditions who are affected by bush fire smoke should activate their health management plan and seek medical advice if necessary. Take precautions, such as staying indoors and closing windows.
- Stay up to date on bush fires in your area by checking the NSW RFS website, listening to your local radio station, or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.
- For information on road closures, check Live Traffic NSW. Roads may be closed without warning.
- Monitor weather conditions and weather warnings at Bureau of Meteorology.
The next update on this fire will be issued by 07/12/2019 08:10 or if the situation changes.
The next update on this fire will be issued by 06/12/2019 22:45 or if the situation changes at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me.
Three injured as community rallies
A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesperson has confirmed that three firefighters have been injured in the Green Wattle Creek fire, which has burned through more than 45,000 hectares of bushland..
It is understood that they may be from the Southern Highlands.
The three people suffered minor injuries fighting Thursday's blaze and were transported to hospital via ambulance.
Meantime, locals have reached out to residents in the fire zones via social media pages to offer transport for livestock, use of their paddocks or a place to stay the night.
The Oaks Hotel has offered free shelter to residents who have been evacuated.
"If you are being evacuated, come and seek shelter with us at The Oaks Hotel - pets welcome," the hotel's Facebook post read.
The George IV Inn in Picton has also offered refuge to people who have been forced to leave their homes.
Macarthur Mowers and Machinery has also offered help for any locals in fire-affected areas who need work carried out on fire-fighting pumps or generators.
"We will look at them straight away and free," the post read.
"We want to ensure it's starting, running and working for you then and we will do this free of charge to help out.
"Any major repairs required will be done at cost price to help.
No threat to Sydney water quality for now
Water quality at Warragamba Dam will be affected by rainfall carrying silt and ash from bushfires.
Sydney's drinking water won't be impacted by emergency bushfires burning near Warragamba Dam and elsewhere around the city, authorities say.
But the risk of silt entering catchment areas will significantly increase when the drought eventually breaks and "burnt and barren" landscapes are soaked with rain.
A WaterNSW spokesman on Friday said a 45,000-hectare blaze at Green Wattle Creek - 15 kilometres southwest of Warragamba Dam in the Blue Mountains National Park - wouldn't affect Sydney's water quality.
There are also smaller fires to the north at Red Ridge Fire Trail and west of the dam at Kowmung River.
"There's no threat to that (water quality) as yet - we're just in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment," the WaterNSW spokesman told AAP.
However, the corporation and the NSW Rural Fire Service are planning ahead to prevent siltation - the contamination of water with fine particles or bushfire remnants - when the area experiences significant rainfall.
Authorities have deployed booms and curtains to prevent potentially contaminated inflows entering dams, while more than 1100ha of backburning and ridge-top burning around Warragamba has taken place.
Dam operators are also able to supply Sydney Water with water from different areas and different storage depths to ensure quality.
"When the drought breaks, whenever that is, we know we're going to get some rain, and with burnt and barren landscapes, we know we're going to get siltation, runoff, erosion," RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters on Friday.
"That's very front and centre - we're working together with land management agencies, environmental authorities and the relevant water authorities.
"We know we're doing all we can to limit the intensity of fire that gets closer and closer to those catchment areas."
Australian Associated Press