EMOTIONS were “all over the place” as about 400 people attended a community meeting at Coolah Sporting Club on Monday morning.
Evacuees and the kind souls who had taken them in joined NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Police Force and council personnel to discuss the devastation of the weekend’s Sir Ivan Fire, and the clean-up ahead.
“It was pretty well run and lots of questions and I’m pretty sure we’ve answered most of them,” Warrumbungle Shire Mayor Peter Shinton said.
“All anybody is looking for is information.
“We’re putting out a news sheet with updates and contacts for people who have lost stock or property.” Coolah Sporting Club has also served as an evacuation centre, but Cr Shinton said everybody had a bed last night.
“Emotions are all over the place,” he said. “We’ve got people who are looking after people, last night people evacuated to the club and everyone had a place to sleep and the community is pulling together as we would expect.”
The fire has burned about 50,000 hectares so far and is yet to be brought under control.
At least 12 homes have been destroyed – including five in the village of Uarbry – 80 per cent of the fire ground is yet to be assessed.
One of those belonged to an RFS captain, who returned from battling the fire to find his own home destroyed. Outbuildings and a church were also destroyed.
Ant Martin, “Dalkeith”, Cassilis reported some 2430 hectares had been burnt on the property from Sunday afternoon, however, at this stage he had no idea of cattle losses.
Dalkeith has long been the home of Hereford and Poll Hereford stud and commercial cattle with stud cattle run on commercial herd style management.
The Sir Ivan fire changed direction from it running east to a northerly direction when Sunday afternoon winds changed from a southerly direction.
This change also ravaged much property and some homes on the Vinegaroy and Rotherwood roads areas of Cassils, plus Tony Lane which runs from the Golden Highway past several properties including Tongy Station and “Turee”, towards Coolah.
Strong winds forced fire through parts of Tongy Station completely destroying the iconic homestead and some outbuildings, however, by-passing the historic woolshed.
There is reported to be sheep losses at Tongy Station but the Hereford herd may have been saved.
Stock losses are continuing to be assessed by Local Land Services and Department of Primary Industry task force.
Assistance is available for farmers to help with livestock including vet assistance, destruction, burial and fodder.
For assistance with livestock, fodder or to report damage please phone 1800 814 647.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared an insurance catastrophe.
An early estimate of losses were at least $20 million and predicted to rise as residents, property and livestock owners assess the damage.
The ACI has activated its disaster hotline – 1800 734 621 for policyholders general inquiries while staff have been mobilised to work directly with local services and affected policyholders.
ICA offers guidance informing policyholders not to be concerned if insurance documents are not readily at hand; take pictured of damage; speak to your insurer before authorising repairs; make an inventory of damage or destroyed possessions; primary producers who need to euthanise injured livestock can do so, but they shjould first advise their insurer and make sure they keep records for the purposes of making a claim.
