A FIRE near Crescent Head got a breath of fresh air last Wednesday and the five days that followed provided some of the most dramatic scenes the Hastings has seen at the start of summer for many years.
The Big Hill Trail fire ripped through more than 9697 hectares before Rural Fire service crews and their supporters were able to say they had beaten the beast.
By Sunday afternoon, the fire was under control but had left a blackened and scorched path across Limeburners Creek National Park from Kempsey to Crescent Head.
Crews will remain on scene over the coming days to patrol the fire and continue to black out any hot spots.
Maria River Road is now open to traffic.
Ten Rural Fire Service units were supported by crews from across the Mid North Coast who were summoned to provide assistance as the blaze crept to within one kilometre of homes on Port Macquarie’s North Shore.
Contingents from Diamond Head, Mitchells Island and Tinonee were among those who arrived to help with the National Parks and Wildlife Service assisting firefighters at the Kempsey end.
Their efforts were also well-supported from the air with the DC-10 water bomber Nancy Bird called in from the RAAF Base in Richmond.
The fire erupted at Big Hill Trail, was contained briefly and re-ignited on Wednesday afternoon.
Rural Fire Service’s Stuart Robb, district officer for the Mid North Coast, said the fire, which was contained on Tuesday, reignited under windy conditions burning hectares of coastal heath.
The high oil content of vegetation in the area caused a significant amount of smoke as the blaze burned.
Residents in the vicinity of Maria River Road, Tarcoola Road, Plomer Rd, Riverside Drive, North Shore, Blackmans Point, Fernbank Creek, The Hatch and Illa Langi were nervously on Watch and Act alert and warned to be ready for fire plan activation if directed.
Hungry Jacks in Port Macquarie provided a hearty breakfast for Hastings fire and SES crews on Sunday morning as a way of saying thank you from the Hastings community for their efforts.
If it wasn’t for the work of volunteers and firefighters who came to assist we could of had big problems. We were very lucky no properties were lost.
- Inspector Wayne Leader, Kempsey RFS
Kempsey RFS Inspector Wayne Leader said the efforts of fire crews from the Hastings, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Manning and Grafton with the help of National Parks and State Forests was extraordinary.
Not one property was lost.
“If it wasn’t for the work of volunteers and firefighters who came to assist we could of had big problems,” Mr Leader said.
“We were very lucky no properties were lost.”
The fire will be monitored this week as temperatures are expected to rise.
Tracey Fairhurst
The Port News has been at the heart of its community for more than 135 years. Your stories matter to us and so does local journalism. If you have a story to share, email tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au
The Port News has been at the heart of its community for more than 135 years. Your stories matter to us and so does local journalism. If you have a story to share, email tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au
