scone.com.auFire Close to Cassilis
HEAVY plant are operating to form barriers outside the township of Cassilis as protection against the Sir Ivan fire, explained Tim from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
“The fire is close to Cassilis right now, just a few kilometres away and the wind has picked up this afternoon which is putting pressure on the northern and north-western side of the fire and fire fighters are being supported by heavy plant which are constructing containment lines and aircraft including the very large air-tanker,” said Tim.
The Sir Ivan fire near Cassilis from a NSW Rural Fire Service plan.
“It is a DC10 being used which can dump more than 40,000 litres and fly in really low, it is great to draw on for fire fighting,” he said.
“We are trying to keep the fire outside of Cassilis and south of Warrumbungle Way as much as we can,” he said.
“We’re asking people to remain alert and check for updates and put in action their bushfire survival plan and know what they are going to do if a fire does approach,” he said.
“If they do see any fire activity and there are no fire trucks to be seen to report it to 000,” Tim said.
The Golden Highway remains closed between Leadville and Merriwa.
The Traffic Management Centre said once the fire passes it may still take time to open the road which has fallen trees and power lines.
The fire is still out of control, but is categorised as watch and act and is estimated to have burnt through 49,528 hectares.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service has assessed 20 percent of the fire zone, beginning at the heel of the fire and has found 12 homes have been destroyed, one home damaged and one church and 15 out buildings were destroyed in the blaze.
They have not been able to assess areas in the Upper Hunter Shire where fire fighting is still underway.
For the latest information check: NSW Rural Fire Service major fire updates.
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