IN what could have been a horror outcome for Tomago residents and businesses on Monday, a joint effort from over 100 firefighters saved the community from an alarmingly early start to the fire season.
Emergency services received a Triple Zero call around 11am on September 2, to Old Punt Road, Tomago to reports of a grass fire near the Newcastle Gas Storage Facility (NGSF), which holds up to 30,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas.
Lower Hunter and Central Coast RFS volunteers battled the blaze with their 20 fire trucks and the assistance of 45 Fire and Rescue NSW personnel and their eight appliances.
Lower Hunter RFS Inspector Cameron Gray says it was very much a joint operation.
"We were working together and were supported by Port Stephens Council and Police as well as a helicopter conducting water bombing operations from above," he said.
The firefighters were sprung into action coming up against damaging winds which caused the fire to spread.
"With the prevailing conditions that we did experience yesterday, the fire just spread very quickly and escalated," Inspector Gray said.
"And then it continued in a south-easterly direction towards Tomago and Graham Drive and the fire was escalated to an emergency warning."
An alert was issued for residents in the vicinity of the Tomago Road and Westrac Drive area to seek shelter around 2pm.
But firefighters gained the upper hand on the fire ground with the blaze downgraded to watch and act at 4.30pm and by 6pm it was being controlled and back down to advice level.
"Generally I couldn't tell you how many hours we've been out there," Inspector Gray said.
"But [as of Tuesday 12pm] we have 15 vehicles and 27 firefighters on site just today."
Since Monday, the fire has burnt through 200 hectares and crews were undertaking backburning operations to secure the southern edge of the fire on Tuesday afternoon, September 3.
"With much cooler and calmer conditions, we are expecting the containment of the blaze by late tonight," Inspector Gray said.
As firefighters continued to conduct backburns, residents in the area may have noticed an increase of fire activity and smoke.
With the bushfire season not predicted to start until October and an early scare, Inspector Gray urged residents to make sure they're up to date with their bushfire survival plan and to download the Hazards Near Me app.
"Since we are into spring, bushfires can start and they can spread quite rapidly," he said.
"It's important to have those plans in place because like we saw this week, the situation can change quite quickly."
"It's hard to say what the fire season will be like because it can be variable, but the NSW RFS is conducting a number of hazard reduction operations throughout the season when safe to do so."
He also encouraged people to consider joining their local RFS.
"It's a great experience to not only progress your own skillet but also to give back and care for your community," he said.
Planned burns from Hunter Water
The bushfire at Tomago caused the evacuation of all Hunter Water employees and contractors from the Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant site.
There have been no impacts to the water or wastewater networks and Grahamstown water treatment plant at Tomago continues to operate as normal.
Hunter Water has announced it will also conduct hazard reduction burns across multiple Hunter Water sites throughout September.
Starting from Wednesday, September 4, private fire management contractors will commence a hazard reduction burn in bushland on Hunter Water-owned land next to Grahamstown Dam.
Raymond Terrace or Medowie residents and motorists on the Pacific Highway may see smoke from this hazard reduction burn.
Following this, burns are planned in other areas near Grahamstown Dam and around Hunter Water's Tomago Road Depot during September. The burns will be contingent on favourable weather, particularly with necessary wind conditions to avoid significant road impacts.
Hazard reduction burns will aim to reduce bushfire fuel loads and help protect neighbours and critical water assets from future bushfires.
Hunter Water has been preparing for these burns over the past few months, and residents and nearby stakeholders have been and will continue to be notified.
