The township of Gundagai was issued a Watch and Act notice on Sunday, February 15 after a grass fire sparked on Annie Pyers Drive.
As of Monday 16, the fire has covered roughly 280 acres and has since been downgraded to an Advice alert, warning residents to stay alert and be prepared.
The fire, which started at approximately 1.30pm on Sunday, is located in the bushland behind the Dog on the Tuckerbox truck stop and statue.
Firefighters arrived to find seven family homes and several other structures (including the service centre) under threat.
More than 50 fire appliances attended and were supported by NSW Ambulance and NSW Police teams.
One house and its adjoining structures were lost to the fire.
Gundagai Fire Station 313 were joined by the Wagga Fire and Rescue 418 Station, Gundagai South Rural Fire Brigade, North Gundagai Rural Fire Brigade, NSW RFS South West Slopes Zone, NSW RFS Riverina Zone, Riverina Highlands RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW Regional South 2, Fire and Rescue Zone Regional South 3, Fire and Rescue Tumut 467 Station, Fire and Rescue NSW Turvey Park and Fire and Rescue NSW Station 389 Harden. Crews from Tarcutta Rural Fire Brigade, Forest Hill, Lake Albert, Yarragundry and Glenfield made up the Riverina Strike Team who assisted the Gundagai and Southwest Slopes teams.
In a post to Facebook, the Gundagai South Rural Fire Brigade said, “Upon arrival the brigades went straight into property protection as the fire moved quickly uphill under well fuelled conditions.”
“Despite rapid spread,” they said, “crews worked hard to contain the fire within several hours.”
The fire, which struck farmland between the Hume Highway and Burra Road, continues to burn in a westerly direction towards Burra Road. As of Monday, property owners along Reno Road were asked to monitor conditions should the situation change.
Strike teams have been relieved from several brigades, with some crews staying to watch over the fire until it is deemed secure and does not hold a threat to the community. Heavy machinery was brought to the scene to knock down hazardous trees.
Thick smoke from the blaze could be seen in Gundagai.
No casualties have been recorded, and professionals will continue to monitor the fire until it is completely out.
For more information about the fire or for updates, visit the Hazards Near Me or the RFS website at www.rfs.nws.gov.au/fnm.
– Elizabeth Kovacs
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