news, local-news,

Fire authorities have confirmed multiple properties were lost during Saturday's intense flare-up of blazes in the Bega Valley. At the height of the crisis, the Border Fire, Big Jack Mountain Fire and the Postmans Trail blaze were all elevated to emergency level and alerts sent out to residents in Towamba, Burragate, New Buildings, Rocky Hall, Wyndham, Myrtle Mountain, Candelo and Tantawangalo as hundreds of firefighters and trucks were deployed into the fire ground to protect those town isolated in the crossfire. RFS public liaison officer Marty Webster confirmed homes and structures had been lost in both the Postmans and Big Jack Mountain fires but said it was too early to determine exact numbers or locations given the evolving situation and lack of access for assessors. "From mid-morning we saw a pretty rapid escalation of fire activity, with huge smoke plumes and smoke columns that are estimated to have risen up to 8km into the atmosphere," he said. "Burnt material from the fires was landing approximately 20km away on the coast." Among those who able to return to the fire ground on Sunday was Wyndham General Store owner Peter White. Firefighters were able to save the family home on New Buildings Road but Mr White lost a shed which had housed his precious collection of parts he was using to restore Holden cars, and which will be difficult or impossible to replace. Meanwhile, Mr Webster said Saturday's hot, fire-friendly conditions were made worse by the large amount of severely drought-affected, heavily forested areas that came under direct fire attack. "There was really dry, available fuel because of the drought - it was just a wrong cocktail of ingredients," he said, confirming that the fire jumped containment lines in several areas. Mr Webster said cooler weather conditions on Saturday night eased the immediate fire threat and as of Sunday morning, all blazes were back to advice level. He said crews spent Sunday assessing the spread from Saturday's flare-up ahead of another difficult day on Monday, with predicted south-westerly winds expected to further fan the already unpredictable flames and possible cause the Big Jack Mountain and Border fires to merge. "The key areas we'll be watching on Monday are around the townships of Rocky Hall, Wyndham, Myrtle Mountain and Burragate," Mr Wesbter said. "The south-westerly is expected to hit between mid-morning and lunchtime and could last into the evening. "There's certainly potential for the Big Jack Mountain and Border fires to meet up."

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/N2VhEHnqjw2FQfCURnN8eC/0114d4ff-20c9-4d50-9f92-042aba648d6b.jpg/r0_55_1080_665_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg