Firefighters will work through the night to extinguish homes in Sydney’s Northern Beaches after residents were rushed to their homes after a fire breached containment lines.
The NSW Rural Fire Service urged Sydney residents in the vicinity of the bushfire to remain on high alert and continue to monitor conditions as they work to contain the blaze between Cromer Heights and Oxford Falls.
Due to stormy weather conditions, the fire was already out of control on Saturday. However, the local fire brigade and fire-fighting aircraft managed to slow the spread of the fire when the wind and temperature started to drop.
More than 280 firefighters and two firefighting aircraft were deployed to extinguish the fire. Residents were told to leave the area after the RFS issued a fire warning for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls at 2.39pm on Saturday afternoon.
The fire was classified as ‘out of control’ by the service and was raging east towards Cromer Heights.
Residents of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street were told it was ‘too late to leave’ and should seek shelter instead.
The RFS said the fire finally began to extinguish about two hours later and the alert was lowered to ‘be vigilant and act’. at 4:43 p.m.
Residents are warned of spark attacks, as fire debris could spread through the air and cause fires to develop in the area.
The fire has now been downgraded to ‘Advisory’ level after the fire got out of control following a routine, controlled burn.
The RFS said firefighters would be carrying out firefighting work overnight behind properties in the area of Oxford Falls Rd, Lady Penrhyn Dr, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued a warning for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls after a fire broke out on Saturday afternoon and was “out of control”.
Residents are being urgently evacuated from Sydney’s Northern Beaches as firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze (smoke from the fire is seen in the picture)
Residents were warned that the work would lead to increased smoke in the areas around Oxford Falls and Cromer Heights.
Willandra Rd would remain closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd while essential works were carried out.
“If you are driving in this area, please drive to the conditions and follow the instructions of the fire service,” RFS said.
The fire has now destroyed 80 hectares and is located near Cromer Heights.
Residents of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Ave, Kirrang St and Lady Penrhyn Dr should be extra alert for sparks.
‘Embers are blown out far ahead of the main fire front and cause localised fires, which can affect your home before the main fire front,’ the RFS said.
The fire was downgraded to a ‘watch and act’ alert by the Meatworks Fire tracking system at 4:43 p.m.
Residents of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street have been told it is ‘too late to leave’ and should seek shelter instead
“Conditions on the fire ground are beginning to improve as firefighters and firefighting aircraft continue to work to slow the spread of the fire.”
Willandra Rd is currently closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd.
The fire is raging east toward Maybrook Ave.
An alert has been issued for the area, warning residents that the fire is out of control and that there is now an “elevated threat level”.
Residents in the area surrounding Maybrook Retirement Village are urged to prepare for possible evacuation now.
Local residents are kept informed via the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page
A local resident said many tourists had come to watch the fire, but he had urged them to keep the roads clear for the fire brigade.
Elsewhere, firefighters were also working to bring several out of control fires under control on Bingleburra Rd, Bingleburra, in Dungog, Norman Av, Thornleigh, in Hornsby and Eels Pl in Parramatta.
Two uncontrollable fires also raged in Cessnock, on Cessnock Rd, Neath and opposite McMullins Rd, East Branxton.
Further north, out of control fires were also reported in Kyogle, with firefighters focusing on Mount Lindesay Hwy, Dairy Flat and Mount Lindesay Rd in Lindsay Creek.
Residents in the area surrounding Maybrook Retirement Village were previously warned to prepare for possible evacuation.
More than 100 residents live in the village and Levande spokesman Dean Felton told them to stay home as the fire raged nearby.
More than 100 residents in the area surrounding Maybrook Retirement Village were unable to evacuate when alerted to the fire and instead stayed put.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from dense undergrowth in the city (photo)
“When the warning came … it was too late to leave,” Mr Felton told the Herald.
A community center in the center of the site was converted into a refuge for residents at the height of the fire.
“The fire was quite close to homes and nursing homes,” Shepherd said.
Meanwhile, residents of Narraweena and Cromer had already been warned to prepare for a spark attack, the NSW Rural Fire Service warned at 3.30pm.
‘Embers are blown out far ahead of the main fire front and cause local fires. These can affect your home before the main fire front,’ the service said.
The RFS advises everyone in the area to be alert for burning embers.
Fire and Rescue NSW continues to support the RFS and has deployed nine trucks and crews which are now focused on property protection
Smoke from the bushfire can be seen over the city from Sydney airport on Saturday
Locals were kept informed via the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page.
“The smoke you can see is unfortunately from a fire at Oxford Falls that is out of control,” one person wrote.
‘Hopefully our brave firefighters will get this under control soon.’
Large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the dense undergrowth near Oxford Falls on Saturday afternoon.
A local resident reported that at least two helicopters had been sent to the area.
Another said they had seen large groups of tourists coming to watch the fire, but urged them to keep the roads clear for firefighters.
The smoke was visible from Manly Beach on Saturday afternoon
Large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the dense undergrowth (photo)
Allambie Vet provided emergency shelter for the pets of people who were able to safely evacuate the neighborhood.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said vegetation in the area already posed a risk before the controlled fire.
“After years of rainfall and flooding, vegetation has grown rapidly and the warmer weather is now drying it out, increasing the risk of fire,” Mr Dib said.
There have been no reports of property loss or damage so far, but the RFS have indicated that they will be busy fighting the fire for the next few hours.
A fire has been reclassified as ‘out of control’ to reduce hazards and is raging east towards Cromer Heights (fire pictured)
An RFS spokesperson said that ‘conditions in the fire area started to improve at 4.43pm’