Update 2pm January 2
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RFS Superintendent Peter Alley said there hadn't been any flare-ups on the spot fire burning down in the gorge near Tallong.
Conditions had been benign but three crews and a bulk water tanker were on standby if and when it burnt into open country.
"It is just creeping along. Plenty of preparatory work has been done," he said.
Although "extreme fire conditions" were on the way for Saturday, he anticipated this outbreak would burn back down into the gorge under the northwesterly wind influence and not become a property threat.
Noon January 1
Crews are on the scene of a spot fire on the southern side of the Shoalhaven River.
The Currowan fire dropped embers across the river near Tallong on Tuesday night, RFS Southern Tablelands district coordinator George Shepherd said.
However he said the fire was inactive and crews had contained it.
"With the current conditions, crews are working on containment lines," he said.
RFS zone manager Peter Alley said the outbreak was some 14km from Tallong in the gorge.
"We have six crews and a grader there," he said.
"We can't get to it so we can only put the grader around it, wait until it gets into open country and then get it."
Only a "slight" easterly wind is currently blowing and the RFS is confident it won't become a threat.
As at 11.30am Tuesday, the Currowan Fire was at 'Watch and Act' level.
Superintendent Alley said while Windellama, Bungonia, Tallong and Marulan thankfully didn't come under threat during Monday's horror conditions, the danger had not passed.
"The threat is always there until these fires go out," he said.
"You only need to have one big blow up day like they had on the south coast on Tuesday. People need to keep in mind that a little spark can turn into a big one quickly so they need to stay vigilant and enact their bushfire plans. Until we get a lot of rain and these fires go out, the threat will remain."
Superintendent Alley said most property owners along Tallong's heavily timbered Caoura Road, leading to the gorge had left. Others around the village had also chosen to leave, as did some at Bungonia and Windellama.
"Anyone who is not confident they can defend their property should move out," he said.
The Veolia Arena on Goulburn's Braidwood Road has been thrown open as an evacuation centre. The nearby Recreation Area is also a large animal evacuation point.
People need to keep in mind that a little spark can turn into a big one quickly so they need to stay vigilant.
- RFS Superintendent Peter Alley
While wind speeds did not reach as high as expected on Tuesday, Superintendent Alley said at one stage at Goulburn Airport, they just tipped the fire danger rating into the 'catstrophic range.' This was based on wind speed, temperature and humidity.
The RFS is expecting more challenging conditions on Saturday, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a top of 41 degrees for Goulburn and 33km/h west-northwest winds by 3pm.
Crews are taking advantage of relatively calmer conditions today to reinforce containment lines.
This morning, the RFS issued the following advice on the Currowan fire:
Current Situation
- A strong southerly change has crossed the fireground.
- Crews will focus on strengthening containment lines in an effort to contain the fire.
- The Charleys Forest Fire has grown along the fires western flank.
Advice for people in the Tallong, Wingello, Penrose, Bundanoon, Exeter, Werai, Manchester Square, Avoca, Fitzroy Falls and Barrengarry areas:
- Monitor the conditions.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
Meantime, last night's wind saw a flare-up of a fire off Oallen Ford Road, which started at about 3pm Saturday, some 8km south of Bungonia.
Firefighters responded immediately and Superintendent Alley said crews and a bulldozer were working on it today, taking advantage of the "benign conditions."
It is currently burning in the national park. More than 21 hectares has been burnt.
