THE risk of widespread property damage occurring in Wingecarribee Shire was the major concern for firefighters as fire crept into the northwest end of the district at the beginning of the weekend.
More than 1,000 homes were threatened in the Southern Highlands, with the main cause for worry being the tiny villages of Hill Top, Balmoral and Buxton.
Thankfully, a change in the predicted wind conditions meant the worst case scenario for the Highlands failed to materialise yesterday.
Since the outbreak began on Christmas Day, crews from Victoria have joined forces with their NSW counterparts to boost numbers in the area.
The fire fighters have been working around the clock setting up firebreaks to prevent the massive 26 kilometre wide blaze from spreading out of control.
They have bulldozed lines around Hill Top and Colo Vale extending to Wombeyan Caves Road and there are 40 RFS trucks on standby.
Inspector Brian Daly from Bowral Police was fearful that there was a high chance the fire would reach the northern villages if the Southern Highlands had received the north westerly winds as predicted.
He said: “I doubt we will now have to evacuate any residents unless we get a significant change in the weather.
“Thankfully, the expected north westerly winds have so far failed to materialise and the good weather conditions have allowed firefighters to continue with back burning operations”.
The haze of smoke on the Hume Highway saw speed limits drop to 80 kilometres an hour on Friday and will remain in place until the smoke is cleared.
Inspector Daly said the back burning on Tourist Road near Robertson was going well, while RFS personnel were mopping up the fire north of Wollondilly.
The total fire ban across NSW is the first since the horrific bushfires of 1994.
Northern villages residents are being warned to empty gutters, clear away any combustible material from buildings as well as have hoses connected and ready.
• The front of the fire burning through Nattai National Park is estimated to be 26 kilometres wide and moving at a speed of three kilometres a day.
• The huge blaze is even big enough to generate its own weather system, meaning it could burn against any prevalent weather conditions at the time.
• The fire has already destroyed 21,500 hectares (50 per cent) of Nattai National Park, which is expected to stay closed for several more weeks, if not months.
• 13 homes have been lost at Thirlmere but a change in the wind direction saved further losses occurring at Buxton, Balmoral and Hill Top.
• Nearly 200 firefighters - including 120 from Victoria - are fighting the massive blaze while a volunteer team of around 40 have manned the control room at SES HQ in Mittagong around the clock since Boxing Day.
• Equipment used to fight the flames includes up to 40 tankers, a pumper and four heavy plant trucks.
• More than 1,000 homes were threatened in total comprising 300 at Buxton and Hill Top, 100 at Camelot and Balmoral, 100 at Yanderra, 250 at Yerrinbool and 300 at Colo Vale.
• Nearby residents were briefed on an evacuation plan on Saturday in case the worst case scenario happened, with a few choosing to stay put.
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