This fantastic shot was taken by Damien Hart on Wednesday evening from up behind the saleyards. Showing the Budawang fire in the background with Braidwood town in the front.
Led by Group South 2 Graham McGrath as Divisional Commander, local volunteer fire fighters from Lake George Zone (Two units from Braidwood assisted by Muloon, Captains Flat and Wamboin) put in a back burn from the Eastern edge of the trail. The Burra and Mongarlowe Brigades initially assisted Dennis Callan bulldoze the new Budawang fire trail and then joined the other units on the Webbs Sector backburn. Photo: K Dwyer.
Richard Stone and Mongarlowe Captain Paul Bott at the containment line. Photo: Paul Cockram
The fires near Braidwood as viewed from Thursday's Qantas flight SYD-CBR. By Alex Patison.
Three fires around Braidwood have been keeping local firies busy and efforts are continuing to recover the wreckage of the firefighting plane which crashed east of the Budawang range last Thursday tragically killing the pilot David Black from Trangie. As Managing Director and Chief Pilot of Rebel Ag, David was engaged in aerial fire-fighting west of Ulladulla. The circumstances of the accident will be the subject of an extensive investigation by Air Transport Safety Bureau, Rural Fire Services NSW and Rebel Ag.
Advice from Lake George Zone RFS says “129 Fire Fighters from the NSW Rural Fire, Nation Parks and Wildlife Service and Forests NSW, supported by 9 aircraft and heavy machinery have worked through the day to try to try to contain a fire burning in rugged, largely inaccessible bushland in the Budawang National Park between Ulladulla & Braidwood. This fire is now over 6,000 hectares in size and has reached the Western Distributor Road, south of Yadboro Flat and containment lines east of Mongarlowe. High humidity and light rain and cooler conditions today (Monday) allowed some back burning to occur, however, crews have been constructing containment lines throughout the day.
Along with a number of fire fighting vehicles, Remote Area Fire Fighting Crews, supported by water bombing aircraft, were deployed to create containment lines and extinguish hot spots in remote bushland.
Road closures remain in place for Western Distributor from Long Gully Road to Wallaby Road; the entire length of Mares Hill Road is closed. Residents should monitor conditions and check with RMS to ensure they have the most up to date information before leaving home.
There are a number of fires burning within the region and smoke from these fires will be visible for some time as they continue to burn. Residents many kilometres away from these fires are being impacted by smoke. Please only contact Triple Zero (000) is you see a fire without a fire truck in attendance.
Meanwhile the Buckyjumba fire in the Deua National Park and Dampier State Forest (15kms west of Nerrigundah, 20kms northwest of Tinpot and 3km north east of Belowra Valley) is now showing no signs of active fire. The fire has been limited to approximately 775ha’s.
The Buckyjumba Fire is now listed at Patrol status. Ground crews will continue to patrol as necessary. Aircraft and heavy plant are available to provide support at short notice should the need arise.
The Corn Trail Fire started in remote country 18km north west of Nelligen in Monga National Park on Wednesday 23rd October. The fire has only grown slowly over recent days and is now approximately 140ha.