Updated
Firefighters continue to battle multiple fires across
NSW but two blazes of major concern in the north of the state have been
downgraded overnight.
More than 730 firefighters have been working to control 59 fires across the state, six of which remain out of control. Conditions eased slightly overnight at Bees Nest, near Armidale, and at Long Gully, near Drake, with both fires now at watch and act level.
Fires at Legume and Mount Mackenzie Road in Tenterfield and Cobargo in the Bega Valley and South Maroota in the Hills Shire were also downgraded overnight but residents have been warned to keep monitoring the advice.
Latest RFS warnings:
- Drake: Watch and act. The fire is burning in remote terrain south of Drake and Tabulum, in the Girard State Forest. The fire has crossed Plain Station Road, and is burning on the western side of the Clarence River. Firefighters are working to hold the fire to the Clarence River and Long Gully Road areas. If you are in the area of Ewingar, Tilbaroo and areas on the western side of the Clarence River, you should put your bushfire survival plan into action now.
- Bees Nest: Watch and act. The fire is burning to the north of Ebor, on multiple fronts. Conditions have eased slightly into the evening but the fire continues to be fanned by strong winds. The fire is affecting Armidale Road and Tyringham Road in the vicinity of Tyringham and Dundarrabin. A large spot fire is also burning in the Muldiva State Forest, and burning towards Tyringham Rd, Bostobrick. Homes and properties in the area remain under threat. If you are in the area of Tyringham, Marengo, Moonpar, Dundarrabin or Bostobrick, you should put your bushfire survival plan into action.
Strong winds are again forecast for today with gusts of around 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said fire danger was very high across the Far North Coast, North Coast and New England areas.
An initial assessment of fire-affected areas yesterday found five homes, 20 outbuildings, two car yards and a pistol club were damaged in the Tenterfield area. In Lidsdale, one home and three outbuildings were damaged.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the early fires were an indication of a dangerous bushfire season ahead.
"Never before have we recorded extreme fire danger conditions this early in the month of September," he said.
"Normally, you would expect those sorts of conditions as you come closer into the summer months.
"It is a sobering reminder of what is ahead, with the outlook indicating the next three or four months is dominated by above-average temperatures, below average rainfall and unfortunately there is no meaningful signal anywhere for drought-breaking, relieving rain."
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared the bushfires a catastrophe and will give priority to claims from affected policyholders.
It has established a hotline — 1800 734 621 — to assist policyholders and field inquiries about claims.
It said it was planning to organise community meetings to give property owners information about the claims process.
The ICA head of risk and operations Karl Sullivan said it had not declared a bushfire catastrophe for some years.
"So this is a sign that we're facing probably quite a serious bushfire season both in northern New South Wales and throughout Queensland," he said.He added it was too early to assess what the number of claims lodged might be.
"That's quite typical with an event like this where there's been a lot of evacuations and people have been following the advice of emergency services to remove themselves from harm's way.
"Our guidance is don't take any unnecessary risks, continue to follow the advice of emergency services when it is safe to do so.
"When you're allowed to do so return to your property and assess if you need to make a claim at that point."
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