Three rural fire brigades and a fire and rescue crew responded to a 70 metre fire at the council tip in Wallerawang on Monday, January 1, after a tall column of smoke was seen emanating from the site.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fire took approximately six hours to put out.
Lithgow Sergeant Darryl Goodwin said police spotted the blaze at midday on New Year’s Day, and found there was a Forestry tanker on the scene.
“Police went to investigate and saw heavy flames and smoke coming from the rubbish tip area at the rear of the Howard’s fireworks facility. The main rubbish tip trench was well alight, with the fire travelling along the trench away from Howard’s,” he said.
Mr Goodwin said Wallerawang, Marrangaroo and Lithgow Rural Fire Services arrived shortly after to fight the blaze, which extended approximately 70 metres along the trench.
“We had three brigades that went to it and Fire and Rescue was also there,” Liz Lewis, operations officer at Chifley Rural Fire services said.
“Fire and Rescue provided property protection and sprayed foam on the fire. The council got the excavator to separate out the rubbish and put water on it. The tip ended up being closed to the public as a result.
“It was extinguished around 6pm.”
The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Ms Lewis said it was likely the fire was accidental.
“We’re not sure of the cause at the moment. These tip fires happen, they're common.”
She warned residents to take “all the regular” fire precautions, including not throwing cigarette butts on the ground and preparing their property in case of an encroaching fire.
“The fire danger is very high at the moment,” she said.
Wallerawang tip has since reopened.
