When Weather Matters - Kosciuszko National Park Fire Facts Summary

Overview
Almost 1300 people are now involved in the fire fighting operation in Kosciuszko National Park. 236 000 hectares of the Park have now been affected by fire.

Fire fighters are expecting more favourable weather conditions over the next four days, which will allow them the opportunity to return to strategic fire fighting rather than property protection. The focus between today and Saturday will be on establishing new containment lines and consolidating existing containment lines while aircraft continue waterbombing of hot spots.

Fire authorities continue to be frustrated by constant rumours of evacuations circulating the community, particularly rumours about the evacuation of Jindabyne, which has not occurred. Visitors and some residents have been evacuated from the resort areas.

Assets and other buildings in the resorts of Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Charlotte Pass, Thredbo and Guthega HAVE NOT been damaged by fire.

Priorities today in the northern section of the Park will focus on containment lines at Talbingo, Gang Gang, Oldfields and Tooma River. Several spot overs have occurred outside of containment lines because of yesterday’s adverse weather conditions.

Fire status

Namadgi fires – managed by Cooma fire control
Large bushfires continue to burn in the Namadgi National Park West of Michelago, North West of Bredbo and North of Shannons Flat and Yaouk.

There are also several fires burning in Kosciuszko National Park West of Yaouk and Adaminaby. Some of these are very active and causing concern. Firebreaks were established along the ACT Border and across part of the Southern section of Namadgi National Park in the past two days. Cooma Fire control has completed a 15 kilometre backburn overnight along the Clear Range west of Michelago on the western side of the Murrumbidgee in Namadgi National Park. This has been done to prevent the easterly spread of this fire towards properties between Michelago and Bredbo.

Property protection work has also been conducted around all properties in the area considered at risk if the Namadgi fire jumps the Clear Range back burn and the river.

Kosciuszko North Complex (formerly Tabletop and Yarrangobilly fires)

The southern boundary of this fire is active and is not contained, with fire burning to the south of Happy Jacks Road and west of Black Jack Fire Tower down into Tooma River and Deep Creek. The old Jugumba Fire Trail – from Mt Jugumba north into the valley is being investigated as a possible containment line for the western edge of this fire. The fire burning north from Tooma Dam (Khancoban Complex) has joined with the fire which has burnt from Wallaby Pt on the shores of Eu*****bene along the Munyang Range.

Backburning was undertaken to contain the fire within the area bounded by Gang Gang, Gavells Hut and Providence Portal. Crews in this area today will concentrate on patrolling this south western edge and property protection if required. The northern boundary of this fire is active but secure, and there is no immediate threat to Talbingo. Backburning was undertaken within the containment lines along the Snowy Mountains Highway. Fire crews will continue to patrol this area today and backburning is again planned for tonight.

Broken Cart Complex

Fires in the very northern end of the park – Stockyard, Broken Cart, Bendora, Gingera, moved south yesterday. This fire, north of Blue Waterholes, remains uncontained. A fire south of Oldfields Hut of about 250 hectares has breached the containment line on Lone Pine Fire Trail, with active fire on its southern edge. Works to protect historic huts throughout this area will continue today when possible. The south-eastern edge of Mt Morgan is also active again with suppression operations occurring to contain this.

There is a containment line from Boundary Road and Brindabella Road to the west of Brindabella Valley. This line held yesterday and will be patrolled again today. The Wyora fire, which has joined with the Broken Cart fire, is burning to the north of Brindabella Valley and is now within containment lines. Fire trails have been graded and backburning operations may also be undertaken, depending upon weather conditions, to stop the westerly run of the fire towards Bondo State Forest.

Rennicks Dainers Gap fire near Perisher

This fire north of Perisher and Smiggins is being contained. However fire fighters have been consolidating backburning between Link, Guthega and Kosciuszko Road. The fire burning south of Perisher Valley and Smiggins through to Rennicks Gap is not contained, after a major run under severe weather conditions yesterday. Strategies to contain this fire are currently being developed.

Thredbo

The overall focus of activity is protecting the village from fires coming from the west and southwest. While there are fires near Dead Horse Gap and Brindle Bull there is greater concern over fires burning in the Murray Valley further west.

Backburning of a five hectare area on the western side of Thredbo village has continued. This links with the golf course which is being kept green through constant watering. North of the golf course a recently constructed dozer trail has been put in around the Crackenback Ridge precinct. This trail links with a ski trail to the northeast of the village. Meantime fire fighters are pruning vegetation in and around property to reduce fuel availability.

Eu*****bene Cove

On the western side of Lake Eu*****bene overnight backburning from Wallaby Point along Burkes Road has been completed with the aim of preventing the southerly spread of the fire into the village of Eu*****bene Cove.

Youngal/Pinnibar/Main/Range/Hannels Spur fire

This fire is the combination of a number of fires which eventually joined with Victoria’s Pinnibar fire.
The western boundary of the Pinnibar section is within control lines and backburning will continue. The southern boundary is contained. Spot fires have been occurring to the south.

Tooma- Scammels

Fire activity on the western flank of the Khancoban area is very quiet. Western containment is solid and crews will be stood down in this area so they can be sent to other areas of greater need. Fire fighters are mostly engaged in patrol and mop up. The eastern side of this complex has moved into Cesjacks Ridge and Kerry’s areas. Containment lines ere being established around the fire in the Snowy Plains area to prevent the fire spreading east towards the Eu*****bene area.

Lighthouse Mountain

This 200 hectare fire near Tooma is outside the park and is contained.

The Mt Morgan, Reedy Creek, Nungar, Yellow Bog and Slaughterhouse fires appear to remain contained.

Community Meetings

Community meetings aimed at providing information on the fires and how people can prepare for the threat of fire will be held today Wednesday 22 January 2003:

Goobarragandra and Argalong - Lacmalac Community Hall - 6:00pm

Jindabyne - Jindabyne cinema - 4:00pm & 5:30pm

Tumbarumba - Pioneer Hall - 7:30pm

Weather

The weather is forecast to be dry, 26-28 degrees and hazy with SE winds at 10 /20 kilometres per hour becoming E/SE during the afternoon. Easterly winds could increase to 25/35 kilometres per hour in the late afternoon. At higher elevations winds are forecast to be W/SW between 15/25 kilometres per hour tending S/SW during the morning.

Thursday: Dry, high 20s, light to moderate E/NE winds in most areas, light W/SW winds on the higher elevations.

Friday: Dry, high 20s to low 30s. Light to moderate W/NW winds on the western side of the Park and N/NE winds on the eastern side.
Saturday: Dry, mid to high 30s, NW winds and Northerly on the eastern side.

Residents to remain on alert

All residents adjacent to Kosciuszko National Park are advised to remain on high alert and prepare their property against potential bushfire hazards.

Residents to remain on “high” alert are:

· Talbingo areas

· Shannons Flat and Yaouk Valley

· Lake Eu*****bene, Providence Portal, Anglers Reach and Old Adaminaby

· surrounding Adaminaby

· Williamsdale, Michelago to Bredbo, Colinton, Murrumbucca

· surrounding Jindabyne

· as well as residents along the Alpine Way

Rsidents must prepare themselves for the threat of fire and be alert for rapid change of conditions.

Kosciuszko National Park Road closures - Phone 1800 004 439 for the latest info

The Snowy Mountains Highway is closed from Adaminaby to Talbingo

The Kosciuszko Road is closed at the park entrance

The Guthega Road is now closed until further notice

The Alpine Way is closed at the intersection with Kosciuszko Road to Khancoban.

The Kiandra-Khancoban Road is now closed until further notice due to fire activity

The Elliott Way is closed until further notice from Cabramurra to the Tooma turnoff

The Monaro Highway is open. This situation may change dependant upon fire activity

The Talbingo Reservoir is closed until further notice due to fire activity.

The Barry Way is open as a through-way only. Campgrounds along the Barry Way are closed.

Commitment

Almost 1,300 personnel are now involved in the fire fighting operation, including personnel from the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Rural Fire Service, State Forests NSW, NSW Fire Brigades, Queensland Fire Brigades, Snowy Hydro, Transgrid, Country Energy, Roads and Traffic Authority, Police, Ambulance, State Emergency Service, Department of Community Services, NSW Health, NSW Tourism, Country Fire Authority (Victoria), Bureau of Meteorology, Local councils and Rural Lands Protection Board.

There are ten fixed wing and 25 helicopters involved.

Livestock management

Arrangements can be made for livestock to be removed to safe locations. For details contact Doug Al***** from the Department of Agriculture on 0411 139594.

Fire bans

A total fire ban is currently in force across NSW. A ‘park fire ban’ is in force for all national parks and nature reserves across south eastern NSW until further notice