- The Rural Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for NSW south coast
- Parts of the area have been evacuated, including an Early Learning Centre
- Multiple bushfires are burning near West Nowra, near Filter Rd and Cavanagh Ln
- The RFS said it is now too late for residents in the area to take shelter
A childcare centre has been evacuated as a massive out-of-control bushfire threatens scores of homes on New South Wales’ south coast.
Multiple blazes are burning south of Sydney, with the Rural Fire Service telling residents near West Nowra to take shelter.
It issued the emergency warning after 12.30pm on Monday saying: ‘People are advised to take shelter as the fire front approaches’.
Several fires are burning near Filter Rd and Cavanagh Lane, West Nowra and it’s too late for residents to leave, the RFS says.
Multiple bushfires are burning out-of-control in West Nowra, on the NSW south coast
The fires are being treated as suspicious after RFS crews spent much of the weekend extinguishing three separate blazes near Filter Road, an RFS spokesman said.
‘Residents in those areas need to understand there is a threat,’ an RFS spokesman told AAP on Monday.
‘They’re moving quickly because of wind and the dry fuels in the area.’
Thor, the large air tanker, has been deployed to assist firefighters working to protect properties in the area but are battling hot, dry and windy conditions.
The fires are being treated as suspicious after RFS crews spent much of the weekend extinguishing three separate blazes near Filter Road
Thor, the large air tanker, has been deployed to assist firefighters working to protect properties in the area
‘Erratic fire behaviour at West Nowra. Avoid (the) area completely unless you need to be there,’ NSW RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers tweeted.
The blaze is moving in a northeasterly direction with nearby resident Lisa Pearson saying the threat in West Nowra is reducing as it moves towards the township.
‘Thank goodness for the wonderful volunteers at the NSW RFS whose hard work means my neighbours and I should have homes to go home to tonight,’ she posted on Facebook.
Parts of the area have been evacuated, including an Echidna Early Learning Centre.