Fairfax Regional websites are diligently keeping an eye on fire situations across the country today. Here are summaries of today's overall situations across the southern inland sites.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
4pm: The Kings Highway remains closed between Bungendore (near Queanbeyan) and Braidwood Road. Motorists are advised to use Braidwood Road to Tarago then Bungendore Road instead.
There is no access from Nerriga to Nowra via Braidwood Road (Nerriga Road).
Countegany Road (Cooma Road) is closed between Numeralla and Braidwood.
|
The Princes Highway remains open at Wandandian on the South Coast, with a reduced 60 km/h speed limit.
Turpentine Road, Wandean Road and Twelve Mile Road remain closed.
Yass Tribune
3pm: Unpredictable and frequent wind changes are creating confusion for residents and landowners in the Yass River Devil's Pass area this morning, as smoke plumes blow in all directions, writes Kathy Brine.
Meanwhile Premier Barry O'Farrell visited the firefighters at the Cobblers Rd fire. Check out the photos here.
1pm: Rural Fire Service crews are working to protect properties along Childowla Rd as fire impacts on the area this afternoon.
Braidwood Times
1.10pm: The Palerang bush fire, burning in the area 13 kilometres east of Bungendore near the Kings Highway, is bring controlled by firefighters.
Yass Tribune
The grass/scrub fire is burning 11 kilometres west of Yass.
Fire crews are undertaking property protection along Childowla Road as the fire is impacting on this area.
There is a also a rural property on Glenroy Rd that may come in contact with fire.
The townships of Yass and Bowning are not being impacted but smoke from this fire is visible from Yass.
Southern Highland News
A total fire ban in place today across the state. Temperatures and fire risk are expected to increase on Friday and the RFS remains on alert.
Expected temperature high for today is 24, and it is currently 19.
TUESDAY'S UPDATES
Braidwood Times
A top temperature of 37 has been forecast and there are already winds of 57km/h.
It seems a lot of people have been worried by the emergency warnings and have left town/villages. The fires near Numeralla are just south of Palerang.
The power went out in Braidwood this morning for an hour.
The three following fires have been reported and classified as “Advice” level.
- Herberton (Mt Fairy)
- Aberfeldy 2
- Whitemans Leap
Cooma Monaro Express
The bushfire burning near the Mount Forest Road a few kilometres from the Numeralla village in the Cooma-Monaro Shire is already impacting on properties.
The fire is burning in a south easterly direction and has crossed over the Numeralla River in the direction of the Kybean Valley. It is expected to reach this area by around 2pm.
People in the Kybean Valley area are advised to leave now and go to Nimmitabel township immediately. Police are doorknocking homes in the area to advise them of the risk.
The Bureau of Meterology has forecast very high temperatures and high winds in the area today.
Cootamundra Herald
Cootamundra has been declared in the 'extreme' fire danger zone today.
The forecast is for a temp high of 40 degrees and windy conditions and South West Slopes Zone Rural Fire Service Inspector Andrew Caldwell says the RFS is on high alert.
He described today's conditions as "extremely dangerous".
Over the weekend lightning strikes caused a number of fires in the local area affecting Wallendbeen, Bethungra and Dirnaseer. No major damage was reported and all were brought under control quickly through the good work of RFS crews.
Goulburn
The Goulburn Mulwaree local government area has been classified as being in catastrophic fire danger today.
The forecast temperature range for today is between 22 and 38 but very high winds have necessitated the catastrophic classification and also mean that back-burning is not available as a firefighting option today.
A temporary headquarters for emergency services has been established in Goulburn Mulwaree Council chambers and will be activated the moment fire dangers escalate.
Council staff spent parts of yesterday and this morning setting up the chambers. Emergency services personnel will coordinate their response from the chambers.
“It’s on standby now,” council’s general manager Chris Berry said.
“They’ll be ready and raring to go.”
Southern Highland News
A top temperature of 37 is forecast for today. Catastrophic fire danger has been classified, but there are no known fires in the area at the moment
Yass Tribune
Residents of the Yass Valley are on high alert today, with many seeking advice on what to do and where to go.
High winds are causing a bit of havoc, with reports just in that a tree has come down on Yass' main thoroughfare, Comur Street.
The region is relatively fire-free at the time of writing and hopes to stay that way, but to be on the safe side campers at Wee Jasper Reserves (considered a high risk area) have been asked to vacate for the day.
Many others have left the region for the day, also, choosing to visit cool shopping centres in Canberra or visit relatives in other areas. Those who haven't left are sitting by their TV or computer, watching and listening for updates.
RFS volunteers are on high alert, ready to go at a moment's notice.
Young Witness
Everyone is on tenderhooks with an eye to the sku here in the Young Shire as the mercury steadily makes its upward crawl - with most people waking to a 6am temperature reading of 26.6, almost seven degrees higher than yesterday's 6am temperature of 19.2.
By 10am it was 31.6 degress celcius with the forecast expected high of 41 degrees. Partly cloudy, the winds are now picking up which is the biggest concern for farmers and RFS teams who are facing an day of extreme fire danger.
No fires in the Young Shire at present.
