Rocklily Wombats readies for Long Gully Road fire approach | PHOTOS

The couple operate the 110-acre wildlife sanctuary, Rocklily Wombats near Wombeyan Caves, some 24km northeast of Taralga.

The 2200 hectare fire, which broke out on Long Gully Road, northeast of Taralga on Friday night, spread north into the Wombeyan Caves/Wollondilly River area on Monday night. Efforts intensified, with large aerial bombers dropping large volumes of retardant and water on inaccessible areas.

Mrs Bisset said on Tuesday the fire was about 9km away from their Rocklily Road property.

“We’re not panicking,” she said.

“...(In terms of fire preparation) we’ve gone through everything the Rural Fire Service has advised and ticked all the boxes.”

Last October, Mr Bisset re-cleared all regrowth around the house and enclosures using a large machine. A line of Cyprus pines, which they read were highly flammable, have been removed and all trees pruned back to two metres.

Straw and other flammables have been cleared from wombat enclosures and woollen blankets placed down burrows to give the animals protection.

The 14 wombats in care, wallabies and anything else large enough for release, have been released in recent days. Mrs Bisset they were due for this regardless of the fire.

The protection measures have also extended to the house where the couple has installed a fire rated roof and mesh on windows. Around the home, a CSIRO rated sprinkler system is at the ready, complementing a trailer with fire reels attached and a pump.

Mrs Bisset said her neighbours were also well prepared. In addition, friends and supporters have dropped in with non-stick bandages for animals likely to be injured in the blaze.

“The eastern front is not as much a concern because it’s in grassland but the northern front towards Wombeyan Caves Road, Mares Forest Road and Langs Road is all bush and a concern.”

But she was thankful that conditions were calmer, allowing people to prepare. 

Mrs Bisset, who has a special animal licence, said because the fire was moving in a ring, many koalas and gliders, predominant in the area, would not survive.

“We’ll be deciding if we can capture the burnt ones,” she said.

“I’m expecting to go out in time to euthanize animals. The aftermath is pretty terrible.”