FIREFIGHTERS got an alarmingly early taste of the bushfire season after a grass fire fanned by strong winds had residents on alert on Monday, September 2.
The blaze burnt through 88 hectares near Port Stephens after it broke out shortly after 11am on Old Punt Road, Tomago near the Newcastle Gas Storage Facility (NGSF), which holds up to 30,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas.
Reaching the emergency warning level, authorities warned those in the fire's path it was too late to leave.
It was downgraded to advice level about 6pm.
A number of AGL Energy workers were evacuated from the NGSF with the activation of the site's emergency response plan.
"The site has recently conducted clearing activities ahead of the start of the fire season. We are watching and listening to the advice of the emergency services," the spokesperson said.
Emergency services were on the ground battling to get the easterly-blowing blaze under control, while a water-bombing helicopter dropped buckets from above, and the NSW Police officers put road closures in place.
As damaging winds ripped through the region, an emergency warning was issued around 2pm for people in the vicinity of Tomago Road and Westrac Drive to seek shelter as the blaze was expected to make impact on homes.
"It is too late to leave," a NSW RFS spokesperson said.
"Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front."
Ampcontrol and Hunter Water told the Newcastle Herald their Tomago sites and employees were safe.
"At the current time, all Ampcontrol sites in Tomago are not impacted. We have closed all operations and sent employees home in the interest of safety and precaution," an Ampcontrol spokesperson said.
A Hunter Water spokesperson said the RFS had control of Hunter Water's site at Tomago and was fighting the fire from Hunter Water's land.
"All Hunter Water employees and contractors have been evacuated, accounted for and are safe. Grahamstown water treatment plant at Tomago continues to operate as normal and can be controlled remotely," they said.
Tomago Road remained closed at 6pm in both directions at the intersection of Cabbage Tree Road and Masonite Road and the Old Punt Road roundabout.
The blaze was downgraded to a Watch and Act level but still out of control around 4.30pm, with firefighters able to hold down the fire front, advising residents to monitor conditions.
Residents Amanda Lorimer and Lilly Delaney had been monitoring the situation from the front of their home on Cabbage Tree Road.
"I'd rather stay and fight than run away," Amanda said.
"You can do things like put wet towels in gutters and get up on the roof with the hose so we might do that if it gets worse."
They also had animals to consider and Lilly said she was planning to get the sprinklers out.
"The wind was going toward Raymond Terrace but now has swung around and blowing straight at us," she said.
"It's only the second day of spring. It's not a good sign for the fire season."
The blaze was reduced to an advice level at 6pm on Monday evening as crews gained the upper hand, holding the fire north of Tomago Road in the vicinity of Westrac Drive.
"This evening crews will undertake a backburn on the northern and eastern edge of the fire in the vicinity of the water treatment plant," an RFS spokesperson said.
Residents in the area may notice an increase of fire activity as the burns are conducted.
