Firefighters will work through the night to put out blazes at properties on Sydney’s northern beaches after residents were forced to urgently evacuate their homes after a risk reduction blaze breached containment lines.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has urged Sydneysiders near the bushfire to remain on high alert and continue monitoring conditions as they attempt to bring the blaze between Cromer Heights and Oxford Falls under control.
Windy conditions had caused the blaze to spiral out of control on Saturday before dedicated firefighters and water-bombing aircraft slowed its spread as winds and temperatures began to drop.
More than 280 firefighters and two water-dropping aircraft were deployed to control the blaze while residents were told to evacuate the area after the RFS issued a fire alert for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls at 2.39pm on Saturday afternoon.
The risk reduction service classified the fire as “out of control” and was burning eastwards towards Cromer Heights.
Residents living in Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street were told it was “too late to leave” and should seek shelter.
The RFS said the fire finally began to subside about two hours later and the alert was downgraded to “watch and act”. at 4:43pm.
Nearby residents are warned to be wary of ember attacks as fire debris travels through the air and threatens to create spot fires throughout the area.
The fire has now been downgraded to “Warning” level after it grew out of control following a routine controlled burn.
The RFS said firefighters would carry out reverse burning operations behind properties in the vicinity of Oxford Falls Rd, Lady Penrhyn Dr, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place overnight.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued a watch and act alert for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls after a risk reduction fire began burning “out of control” on Saturday afternoon.
Residents are being urgently evacuated from Sydney’s northern beaches as firefighters battle an out-of-control risk reduction blaze (smoke from the fire shown)
Residents were warned that these operations would cause increased smoke in the Oxford Falls and Cromer Heights area.
Willandra Rd will remain closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd while essential works are carried out.
“If you are driving in the area, please be aware of the conditions and follow the instructions of the fire department,” RFS urged.
The fire has already burned 80 hectares and is located near Cromer Heights.
Residents living in Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Ave, Kirrang St and Lady Penrhyn Dr should take extra care of ember attacks.
“Embers will fly long distances ahead of the main fire front, causing localised fires that could affect your home before the main fire front,” the RFS said.
The Meatworks fire monitoring system had downgraded the fire to a “watch and act” alert at 4:43 p.m.
Residents living in Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street have been told it is “too late to leave” and to seek shelter.
‘Conditions at the fire site have begun to improve as firefighters and water bombers continue to work to slow the spread of the fire.’
Willandra Rd was currently closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd.
The fire is burning eastward toward Maybrook Ave.
A watch and act warning has been issued for the area, warning residents that the fire is out of control and there is now a “heightened threat level.”
Residents near Maybrook Retirement Village are urged to prepare now for the possibility of evacuating the area.
Local residents receive updates on the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page
One local said he had seen large numbers of tourists arriving to watch the blaze, but had urged them to keep roads clear for firefighters.
Firefighters were also working to control several out-of-control fires at Bingleburra Rd, Bingleburra, Dungog, Norman Av, Thornleigh, Hornsby, Eels Pl in Parramatta.
Two fires also broke out of control in Cessnock, on Cessnock Rd, Neath and off McMullins Rd, East Branxton.
Further north, out-of-control fires were also reported at Kyogle, with firefighters concentrating on Mount Lindesay Hwy, Dairy Flat and Mount Lindesay Rd at Lindsay Creek.
Residents near Maybrook Retirement Village were previously told to prepare for the possibility of evacuating the area.
More than 100 residents live in the village and Levande spokesman Dean Felton said they had to shelter in place as the fire raged around the area.
More than 100 residents in nearby Maybrook Retirement Village were unable to evacuate when they received warning of the fire and instead stayed put.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the dense bushes that stretched across the city (pictured)
“By the time the warning came… it was too late to leave,” Felton told the Herald.
A community center at the center of the site became a designated shelter for residents at the height of the fire danger.
“The fire burned fairly close to homes and retirement residences,” Shepherd said.
Meanwhile, residents of Narraweena and Cromer had already been told to prepare for an ember attack, the NSW Rural Fire Service warned at 3.30pm.
“Embers will fly great distances ahead of the main fire front, causing localized fires that could affect your home before the main fire front does,” the service said.
The RFS has advised everyone in the area to be vigilant about any glowing embers.
Fire and Rescue NSW continues to support the RFS and has deployed nine trucks and equipment now focusing on property protection.
Smoke from the bushfire is seen rising over the city from Sydney Airport on Saturday.
Locals were receiving updates on the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page.
“The smoke you can see is unfortunately coming from a fire in Oxford Falls that has reached an out of control state,” one person wrote.
“We hope our brave firefighters can get this under control soon.”
Large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the thick bushland of Oxford Falls across the city on Saturday afternoon.
A local reported that at least two helicopters had been deployed in the area.
Another said he saw large numbers of tourists coming to watch the fire, but urged them to keep roads clear for firefighters.
Smoke was visible from Manly Beach on Saturday afternoon.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen coming from a dense thicket (pictured)
Allambie Vet provided emergency accommodation for the pets of people who were able to safely evacuate the suburb.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said vegetation in the area had posed a risk before the controlled burn.
“After several years of rain and flooding, vegetation has grown rapidly and is now drying out in the warmer weather, increasing the risk of fires,” Dib said.
No loss or damage has been reported so far, but the RFS has said its work to contain the fire will continue over the next few hours.
A risk reduction fire has been reclassified as “out of control” and is burning eastwards towards Cromer Heights (fire pictured)
An RFS spokesman said “conditions are beginning to improve at the fire site” at 4:43 p.m.