The bushfire that spread from the original Meatworks Hazard Reduction is listed as being contained and there has been no change in the advice level.
Updates on today’s Beacon Hill hazard reduction burn can be viewed here including the final details of the Oxford Falls bushfire that is now listed as contained.
A fire at Meatworks Avenue, Oxford Falls, originally listed as a hazard reduction, was classified as out of control at 1:30pm on 21 September and burnt through over 100 hectares of land putting properties in Cromer Heights at risk yesterday. While the fire is under control, residents have been advised to set up notifications on Hazards Near Me App.
Residents continued to see flames throughout the night as firefighters controlled the bushfire and continued backburning to keep properties safe. Smoke and waterbombing aircraft will be visible today as firefighters contain the fire. This situation is expected to last for a few days.
8:30pm UPDATE:
Northern Beaches Rural Fire District responds to community concerns over planned hazard reduction burn spreading past control lines
This evening, via a statement on their Facebook account, Northern Beaches Rural Fire District posted the following:
“We want to take a moment to sincerely acknowledge the concerns raised around the recent hazard reduction burn that unfortunately spread beyond the planned control lines. This area, which hasn’t been burnt since 1994, had high fuel loads that contributed to the unpredictable fire behaviour.
“Despite our careful planning, a few embers escaped and led to a spread that no one wanted to see. Even today, under calmer conditions, our dedicated firefighters are still working to manage spot fires beyond the control lines.
“While the fire’s spread was disappointing, we are thankful that the 140ha area now has reduced fuel loads, with no loss or damage to properties. Had this occurred in the peak of summer under hot, dry, and windy conditions, the outcome would have been far worse.
“We are deeply grateful to our incredible volunteer crews, who will remain on site to ensure the fire is fully contained. These same volunteers will be on the front lines this summer, working tirelessly to protect your homes and businesses from bushfires.
“Thank you for your continued support.”
3:00pm UPDATE: Spot a new fire?
We’ve had a few queries over new fires popping up on the Hazards Near Me app listed as “out of control”. These listings are automatically generated when people call triple zero, they are not verified out of control fires. It’s for timely communication but can cause panic where there need not be sometimes. Readers are reminded that the most important thing to monitor is a change in the alert level, which remains at being controlled and at Advice only level. The new fire listed was a false alarm, though there are crews, back burns and plenty of fire and smoke about. This situation may continue for days.
Only call triple zero if the matter is life threatening or your property is in danger.
The alert level remains at advice. The fire has burnt 147 hectares of land.
A local wildlife carer is urging anyone driving on the affected roads to slow down as wildlife who are fleeing the bushfires and seeking shelter are being hit by cars.
If you see wildlife either injured or on the side of the road (even if they appear okay), call Sydney Wildlife 9413 4300 or WIRES 1300 094 737, or if you feel confident, grab a towel or blanket and get them to NEVS at Terry Hills or Allambie Vet (both have said they will take injured wildlife).
Please also ensure you do not enter the bushland anywhere in the area and do not fly drones near the site – this prevents the NSW Rural Fire Service helicopters from being able to fly and attend the blaze.
10am UPDATE: 137 hectares has now burned at Oxford Falls, Cromer Heights and Beacon Hill. The bushfire is still listed as being controlled and at advice only level. Locals can expect to see a lot of helicopters today all day as they attack the final flames from the air.
A fire alert earlier in the Killarney Heights area was just a smouldering camp fire, not an active fire.
While the fires were incredibly close to homes overnight, much of this was defensive back burning. No properties or human lives have been lost. Please keep an eye out for injured wildlife and leave water out.
The Hazards Near Me App continues to be your best source of information.
Sunday 22 September, 9:00am UPDATE: The bushfire at Oxford Falls remains at the level of Advice – Monitor Conditions.
The fire is burning bushland between Cromer Heights, Beacon Hill and Oxford Falls. Conditions have eased and firefighters have now completed backburns on the eastern edge of the fire (near Cromer Heights). Residents in the area should monitor conditions and stay up-to-date in case the situation changes. It is highly recommend you download the Hazards Near Me App and set your notifications on your area.
The fire has burnt more than 100 hectares of bushland and is being controlled. Firefighters, working overnight have completed backburns behind properties in the vicinity of Lady Penrhyn Drive, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place.
Residents will still see smoke today as firefighters will focus their efforts on the western edge of the fire in the vicinity of Red Hill Reserve in order to contain the fire. Crews will continue to strengthen containment around the fire and they will be supported by waterbombing aircraft.
While no property or lives have been affected, keep an eye out for injured wildlife and leave little bowls of water out. If you see injured wildlife please notify Sydney Wildlife Rescue (02 9413 4300) and Wires (1300 094 737).
We will keep posting rolling updates as we become aware of them.
Here is a full summary of advice as at 7:30pm, Saturday 21 September:
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7:30pm UPDATE: We have been hearing from residents of Maybrook Avenue, Cromer of concerns as fire again nears property.
We have just spoken with the the Rural Fire Service who confirmed there is no change to advice and this is a slow backing fire (slow burning fires), being controlled by crews on the foreground.
“The fire is slowly backing (moving without wind) down towards Willandra and Little Willandra but we have hundreds of crews down on the ground and it’s very slow moving,” Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd told us. (Full interview below)
“There is no change to advice and we encourage everyone to set up a watch zone in the Hazards Near Me App so they get instant alert should the advice change.”
Rural Fire Service responds to upset over hazard reduction gone wrong
Manly Observer spoke to Rural Fire Service spokesman, Ben Shepherd, this evening on the situation on the ground.
“What we’ve seen is a fire that was a result of escaped hazard reduction, and it expanded quite quickly in the wind,” he said.
“More than 80 hectares burnt, with almost 300 firefighters on the ground, but we are now seeing the conditions ease as the wind slows down and the humidity comes up. That’s going to stay that way now, well into this evening.”
He explained that the overnight focus will be containing the fire and warned that there will still be a bit of fire activity in the area.
“There’s still going to be fire trucks moving around, there will still be smoke in the air but definitely the major threat has now eased,” he added.
He explained that not many residents in the emergency zones evacuated, which helped to keep the roads clear for fire trucks to move easily and quickly.
“The really good thing to see, especially in some of these retirement villages, was good cleared areas for firefighters to work from, so it was actually okay for those people to be there,” he added.
For those residents who left, they will be allowed to return home tonight.
Residents in the area still need to monitor the situation overnight, in case it changes. If homes are threatened the alert will go back up and messages will be sent to residents (so don’t silence your phone tonight). Also, ensure you have Fires Near Me and Hazards Near Me App, you are able to enable notifications for your area.
“It’s a bit of a wake up call, especially here on the beaches, wherein, you know, only three four weeks ago, we couldn’t undertake burns,” Shepherd told Manly Observer.
“It was just too wet to do so. These recent westerlies and these strong winds have definitely dried out the landscape.
“There’s no one more disappointed than the crews themselves who have been looking to undertake this burn today, we’ve been really wanting to catch up. You know, they did such good work. There were a number of embers that blew past those lines. They caught the majority of them. It was only one or two that then was escalating, got away from them. But this is part and parcel of living in these areas and burning in these kind of vegetation. It is problematic. It’s not without risk. But fortunately, today, whilst it did escalate and escape quickly, we haven’t seen any homes actually burnt or lost.”
Fire Services are expecting a normal fire season but Shepherd says that we aren’t even in the bushfire danger period, so we all need to be ready for days like today.
5:56pm UPDATE: We are pleased to advise that the bushfire at Oxford Falls and Cromer Heights has again been downgraded to “Advice.”
This means the threat of imminent danger has passed, though it is still a fire classed as out of control.
Advice is as follows:
- The fire is currently 80 hectares in size and burning in an easterly direction.
- Firefighters, working to contain the fire, are conducting backburning operations overnight behind properties in the vicinity of Oxford Falls Road, Lady Penrhyn Drive, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place. These operations will result in increased smoke in the Oxford Falls and Cromer Heights areas.
- Willandra Road will continue to be closed between McIntosh Road and Little Willandra Road while this work is undertaken.
- Conditions across the fire ground have begun to ease as wind speed and temperature decrease.
- If you are driving in the area please drive to the conditions and take directions from firefighters.
- Monitor conditions and stay up to date in case the situation changes. Know what you will do if the situation changes.
Monitor via the Hazards Near Me App.
5:00pm UPDATE: The fire has been downgraded to watch an act which means homes previously in the emergency zone are no longer considered in imminent danger. We are pleased to report our current information is that no property or lives have been lost. Currently 80 hectares have, however, burned. We now turn our attention to the native wildlife – if you see injured wildlife please notify Sydney Wildlife Rescue (02 9413 4300) and Wires (1300 094 737).
- Leave out shallow bowls of waterfor animals and birds escaping fires, and add a few sticks or stones on one side to allow smaller animals to escape if they fall in.
- Keep a cardboard box, gloves, personal protective equipment and a towel in the boot of your car in case you find an injured animal that you can safely contain without putting yourself in any danger.
- If you rescue an animal that has sustained burn injuries, do not attempt to feed it. Please wrap it loosely, ideally in 100% cotton fabric, place it in a ventilated box with a lid and keep it in a dark and quiet place whilst waiting for a rescuer or for transport to the nearest vet. Water should not be poured from a water bottle above the animal.
- Keep all animals away from children and pets. Handling wild animals should only occur in the course of containing the animal to reduce additional stress.
- Take injured animals to your nearest vet if you can safely, as injured animals will require urgent vet assessment. Call WIRES to let us know which vet you’ve taken the animal to, so we can follow up with the vet to bring the animals into care when they are ready.
- Do not approach injured snakes, flying-foxes, koalas, large kangaroos, raptors or monitors, as these must be rescued by trained specialists, for these species, please call WIRES first for rescue assistance on 1300 094 737.
4:47pm UPDATE: If you are in the area of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue, Kirrang Street and Lady Penryhn Drive you should be aware of an ember attack.
Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front.
Conditions across the fire ground have begun to ease, as firefighters and waterbombing aircraft continue work to slow the spread of fire.
Willandra Road is currently closed between McIntosh Road and Little Willandra Road.
4:06pm UPDATE: Willandra Avenue is closed – we have just passed a long line of cars being turned away at the Willandra / McIntosh intersection. This part of Cromer Heiights up to Beacon Hill is now subject to an emergency warning where there can be no access in or out for the safety of all.
Those outside of that area may choose to evacuate but there are no orders in place.
The fire is still out of control and wind gusts of up to 27kmh keep shifting the fire east towards Cromer Heights.
Remember: Hazards Near Me App is your best defence
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3pm UPDATE: Fire impacting homes at Cromer Heights.
An emergency warning is in place for the Cromer Heights area due to a large bush fire. If you are in the area of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue, Kirrang Street, you are at risk. Seek shelter now or as the fire approaches to protect yourself from the fire. It is too late to leave.
Avoid the area.
NSW Rural Fire Service recommend you actively monitor your property for burning embers. These embers may start spot fires which may threaten your home. Put out any spot fires you can. Know what you will do if the fire impacts on your property. A safer location may include a solid structure such as a house, or a well cleared area.
If you are threatened by fire
- If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure such as a house to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
- Bring pets indoors and restrain them, close all doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, keep water running if possible.
- Shelter in a room on the other side of the building from the approaching fire, and one that has water and a clear exit out of the house.
- Monitor both inside and outside for small fires and burning embers and turn sprinklers on if you have them.
- Be careful outdoors after the fire has passed as trees can be unstable and fall.
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000).
