Australia’s famous Mogo Zoo is DIRECTLY in the line of a raging bushfire

Animals locked in cages at Australia’s famous Mogo Zoo are directly in the line of fire as firefighters warn there is nothing they can do to save the tourist attraction. 

The previous owner said the advancing flames on New South Wales’ South Coast were the ‘worst thing to happen in the history’ of the zoo.  

The animal enclosures are threatened by the 31,000-hectare Clyde Mountain Fire burning to the north around the town of Batemans Bay.

Australia’s famous Mogo Zoo is directly in the line of fire as a 31,000-hectare blaze threatens the renowned tourist attraction

The out-of-control blaze has now crossed the Princes Highway close to the small town of Mogo (pictured Green Wattle Creek Fire near town of Tahmoor on December 19)

The out-of-control blaze has now crossed the Princes Highway close to the small town of Mogo (pictured Green Wattle Creek Fire near town of Tahmoor on December 19)

The out-of-control blaze has now crossed the Princes Highway close to the small town of Mogo – closing the major road in both directions.

‘Multiple fires are currently burning between Cooma, Bega and Batemans Bay and a number of these pose a serious threat to life,’ the NSW Rural Fire Service said.

Former owner Sally Padey told The Daily Telegraph she could only hope the animals inside would survive.

‘I hope they are going to be OK,’ she said. 

‘It’s the worst thing to happen in the history of Mogo Zoo.’ 

It comes as a family of five were forced to run for their lives after their holiday house was surrounded by ferocious flames and plumes of smoke. 

Tracey Corbin-Matchett, her husband and their three children were forced to flee the two-storey timber abode at Tarbuck Bay, about three hours north of Sydney, on Monday.

‘My family and I just ran for our lives through bush,’ Ms Corbin-Matchett wrote on Twitter with footage of the blaze.

‘Huge bushfire trapping the five of us in the holiday house we’re staying at. We don’t know what’s left but so grateful for the NSW RFS.’

The previous owner said the advancing flames on New South Wales' South Coast were the 'worst thing to happen in the history' of the zoo

The previous owner said the advancing flames on New South Wales’ South Coast were the ‘worst thing to happen in the history’ of the zoo

Ms Corbin-Matchett said the family were returning home to Sydney in ‘shock’.

‘My kids were screaming. The most frightening experience of my life,’ she wrote on Twitter.

Ms Corbin-Matchett said the fire started from a fallen power line and spread rapidly.   

It comes after a family of five were forced to run for their lives after their holiday house (pictured before the fire) was surrounded by ferocious flames and plumes of smoke

It comes after a family of five were forced to run for their lives after their holiday house (pictured before the fire) was surrounded by ferocious flames and plumes of smoke

‘There was no time (to evacuate). The house is on a hill and the fire started at the entrance to the long driveway of house, fallen power lines in high wind, trapping us in.’

‘Tried to drive out then had to reverse the car and run on foot.’

The horrific footage comes as the NSW RFS released a dire warning for residents and holidaymakers on the New South Wales South Coast.  

They said members of bushfire-prone communities near Batemans Bay and Bega should move to large towns away from bushland by 8am.

Tracey Corbin-Matchett, her husband and their three children were forced to flee the two-storey timber abode at Tarbuck Bay, about three hours north of Sydney, on Monday

'My family and I just ran for our lives through bush,' Ms Corbin-Matchett wrote on Twitter with footage of the blaze.

Tracey Corbin-Matchett, her husband and their three children were forced to flee the two-storey timber abode at Tarbuck Bay, about three hours north of Sydney, on Monday. ‘My family and I just ran for our lives through bush,’ Ms Corbin-Matchett wrote on Twitter with footage of the blaze

‘There are 7 dangerous fires burning between Batemans Bay and the Victorian border on the South Coast,’ the RFS said.

‘These fires have moved quickly this morning beyond the predicted fire spread for today.

‘They pose a serious threat to life. Do not be in the path of these fires. Avoid bushland areas and if the path is clear move to larger towns or beaches to take shelter.’

Extreme fire danger is forecast for the Southern Ranges, Illawarra and ACT on New Year’s Eve while surrounding regions – including Sydney, the Hunter and the far south coast – are set for severe fire danger.

Strong westerly winds are expected, pushing fires east and placing coastal communities and holiday hotspots under threat.

Total fire bans are in place for more than half of the state’s 21 fire districts including Sydney. Five blazes were on Tuesday at emergency level – one in the Snowy Valleys and the remainder around Bega and Batemans Bay.

The horrific footage comes as the NSW RFS released a dire warning for residents and holidaymakers on the New South Wales South Coast

The horrific footage comes as the NSW RFS released a dire warning for residents and holidaymakers on the New South Wales South Coast

The RFS on Tuesday said those fires ‘pose a serious threat to life’ and motorists have been advised to avoid all non-essential travel, while stretches of the Princes Highway and Monaro Highway are shut.

Almost 100 blazes continue to burn across NSW, with dozens uncontained.

In Sydney on Tuesday, strong dry winds, poor air quality and temperatures touching 33C are expected while the city’s west will surpass 40C.Fire prediction maps suggest the Green Wattle Creek fire, which has already scorched 227,000 hectares, may cross the Hume Highway near Bowral.

 

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