NSW: Private burn-off likely to have caused bushfire: Whan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
NSW: Private burn-off likely to have caused bushfire: Whan

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By Kim Christian and Stephanie Gardiner

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - A private burn-off is likely to have sparked a bushfire still
raging on the NSW south coast that threatened homes over the weekend, authorities say.

No properties are now under threat from the blazes near Burrill Lake, in the Shoalhaven
region, and further south at Eurobodalla, but authorities are warning residents to be
alert to any sudden wind changes.

Backburning has been undertaken at both sites to set up containment lines and about
150 firefighters and six aircraft will patrol the Shoalhaven fire on Monday.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan said the fire was still burning out of control.

"We're confident that at the moment that properties are not under threat, but obviously
that can change quickly if there is a wind change," he told reporters on Monday.

"In some areas we've got to still work out what the causes of these fires were, but
anecdotally so far it seems that the fire around Burrill Lake was actually an escaped
hazard reduction from a private property, but that has to be investigated thoroughly."

He said property owners in some areas had not heeded last week's warning to avoid burn
offs in windy, dry weather.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is also advising people in the Lake Tabourie area to remain alert.

Gusts up to 60km/h from the northwest continue to lash the Illawarra and south coast.

Mr Whan said the conditions over the weekend had been difficult for fire authorities.

"For a weekend late in winter, last weekend was very challenging," he said.

"We had a number of fires around the state and one in particular around the Burrill
Lake area is still burning out of control in some areas to the west of the Princes Hwy,
but it is not currently threatening people's properties."

He said RFS volunteers had protected threatened houses.

"I saw them there yesterday, they had tankers interspersed amongst the houses which
were threatened," Mr Whan said.

"They were standing side by side with residents who had decided to stay and fight and
as a result of that the bulk of property which was threatened was saved."

He said recent strong winds and warm weather had dried out areas left damp from flooding
and left it difficult to do hazard reduction burning before summer.

He urged NSW residents living in fire-affected areas to prepare their properties for
the forecast warm spring weather and have a fire plan in place.

"That means making a decision about whether you're going to stay and defend your property
or leave and if you're going to leave, leave early before fires approach."

The NSW government was continuing with its stay or go policy, Mr Whan said.

"What we want to do in light of the Victorian Royal Commission's recommendations is
to better educate people about what that means."

The Bureau of Meteorology says recent windy conditions will be followed by a hot early
spring period and an increased fire danger.

"We've got a lot of resources ready to go to help people and to fight fires where that's
necessary, but we need people to actually take their own precautions," Mr Whan said.

AAP krc/evt/cjb

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW WRAP (REISSUING)

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