Fire crews are bracing for extreme bushfire conditions to hit the NSW South Coast on Saturday.
It comes as NSW police confirm a seventh person has died in the region's bushfire crisis. The person has yet to be identified, but police believe it is a 72-year old man who was unaccounted for as fires ripped through Belowra on New Year's Eve.
Authorities have confirmed that a total of 449 properties have been destroyed by fires on the South Coast since January 1.
The Rural Fire Service ordered holidaymakers to leave the coast on Thursday, with predictions Saturday could bring bushfire conditions comparable to, or potentially worse than, those on New Year's Eve.
The mass exodus was brought to a standstill on Thursday night as road closures on the Princes Highway at Milton stopped traffic. The road has now reopened.
The highway between Batemans Bay and Moruya also reopened on Friday afternoon.
Two major bushfires are currently burning out of control on the South Coast.
The Currowan fire is burning between Batemans Bay and Nowra and east of Braidwood. It was burning at watch and act level on Friday morning.
Conditions at the Badja Forest Road fireground, which is inland of Bermagui and Narooma, have eased for the time being, but still remain dangerous, according to latest advice.
The Rural Fire Service is predicting that the Badja Forest Road fire could spread east to the towns of Bermagui and Narooma, and north towards Moruya on Saturday. If the prediction proves correct, Badja Forest and Currowan fires would go close to merging.
Fire Spread Prediction for Sat 4 Jan 2020
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 3, 2020
Dangerous fires in Shoalhaven, South Coast, Snowy Mountains & areas surrounding Greater Sydney. You should not be in potential spread areas or potential ember attack areas on Saturday. #nswrfs#nswfirespic.twitter.com/Ry14FXgPR2
Rural Fire Service spokeswoman Cathie Moore said crews were using favorable conditions on Friday to strengthen containment lines on multiple fire fronts across the region.
She said aircraft would also attempt to drop retardant gels onto the fire grounds, if conditions allowed.
"We've been trying to do that for the past couple of days, but the heavy smoke isn't allowing the aircraft to get up and have that visibility," she said.
Eurobodalla Shire Council has advised residents living outside Narooma, Moruya, Tuross Head and Batemans Bay who aren't fully prepared to defend their home to move to the closest evacuation centre by 6pm tonight. The evacuation centres are at;
- Hanging Rock Function Centre, Hanging Rock Place (Batemans Bay)
- Moruya Basketball stadium (Moruya)
- Leisure Centre (Narooma)
Tuross Head residents are being told to remain at home.
"If fire reaches the village, RFS strike teams will be there to defend," the council said.
"The village is well set up with the club and shopping area providing protection for anyone living near the bush or who would like to take refuge."
Further up the coast, normally-crowded holiday spots around Jervis Bay had become ghost towns by Friday afternoon.
Jervis Bay Holiday Park receptionist Jess Climan said more than 200 people had been evacuated from the accomodation, with some leaving their boats behind.
"It turned into panic mode," Ms Climan said. "None us [staff] got the message to evacuate - it was just the people staying here."
"It's a ghost town now. It's like a winter's day."
Stay up to date on bush fires in your area by checking the NSW RFS website, listening to your local radio station, or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.
In the ACT, a Relief Centre has been set up at Dickson College for those escaping the fires.
See here a full list of Evacuation Centres in NSW.
People are encouraged to register online at Register Find Reunite before going to evacuation centres.
More to come
