Update: Meads Creek Fire – Tuesday

LIGHT rain yesterday helped reduce the fire and threat to properties.

Yesterday, fire crews conducted back burning along Ringwood Road (Wollara Road) and a community meeting was held at the Merriwa RSL to update residents.

Today, the back burning will continue, weather permitting, which make result in more smoke in the area.

Later this week, strong gusty winds and increasing temperatures are forecast, which may increase fire activity.

Properties which may come under threat include those in the vicinity of Tunbridge Road and Cullingral Road, including Duggan Road and Merriwa River Trail to the east of the fire and Ringwood Road (Wollara Road) to the north-east.

Ringwood (Wollara) Road remains closed, except to residents who can produce identification.

Advice:

• Residents in the vicinity of the fire need to remain vigilant and follow advice and instructions from firefighters and emergency personnel. 
• Review or make a bushfire plan: if you plan to leave or are under-prepared, leave well ahead of the fire. 
• Police remind residents who may have to evacuate with firearms, that they need to find a place to store their firearms properly as keeping them in vehicles is prohibited.
• Landholders can take pets and livestock to the Merriwa Showground to be registered with the Local Land Services.
• Community Services are available at the Merriwa RSL Club.

More information:

Many residents raised concerns about no internet or phone connection during the fire and were advised that in those situations residents may have to assume the fire has knocked out communications infrastructure and may be approaching. Residents are encouraged not to rely on normal communications and they may have to make the decision to leave their property independently.

More Meads Creek Fire Information:

Updates:

• Visit the RFS Website;
• Phone the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line: 1800 679 737;
• Fires Near Me;
• ABC Radio is the national emergency broadcaster;
• Cudgegong RFS Facebook page;
• Liverpool Range RFS Facebook page;

Road closures: Ringwood (Wollara) Road remains closed. Roads may be closed without warning. To check road conditions you can visit either the Mid-Western Regional Council website or the Upper Hunter Shire Council website.