Update 6.30pm
A firefighter on the ground has shared a video he took of the huge Gospers Mountain bushfire that is currently burning at emergency warning level.
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The 364,606 hectare fire is burning in a southerly direction towards Mount Wilson.
The video below was supplied by a firefighter who was battling the blaze on Saturday.
He was among dozens of crews stationed near the corner of Bells Line of Road and Mount Wilson Road earlier on Saturday afternoon.
Bells Line of Road is closed to all traffic and will be for a number of days.
Stay up-to-date at Fires Near Me.
Update 5.50pm
A bushfire information session is currently underway a Wallerawang Rural Fire Brigade station.
The fire brigade's station is located on Wolgan Road, nearest cross street is Maddox Lane.
The session runs until 7.30pm.
This fire is still at emergency warning level.
Advice
Mt Wilson
- It is too late to leave.
- Seek shelter as the fire approaches.
- Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
Angus Place
- Continue to monitor conditions, and know what you will do if the fire threatens.
- Be ready to take action in case conditions change.
- Follow the advice of firefighters in the area.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
Glen Alice, Wolgan Valley, Ovens and Olinda Valley areas
- Continue to monitor conditions.
- Be ready to take action in case conditions change.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
Lower Portland, Central Colo, Colo, Upper Colo and Colo Heights areas
- Continue to monitor conditions.
- Be ready to take action in case conditions change.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan. Leaving early is your safest option.
Boree and Wallabadah areas
- Monitor the changing conditions.
- Know what you will do if the fire threatens.
Mountain Lagoon, Bilpin, Mt Irvin, Itchenstoke and Bell areas
- Continue to monitor conditions.
- Be ready to take action in case conditions change.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
Lower Macdonald, Upper Macdonald, Perrys Crossing, Fernances and Mogo Creek area
- Monitor conditions and be ready to take action.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
- If your plan is to leave or you are not prepared, leave early.
Blaxlands Ridge and East Kurrajong area
- Continue to monitor conditions.
- Be ready to take action in case conditions change.
- Follow your bush fire survival plan.
Earlier
AN EMERGENCY warning has just been issued for the Gospers Mountain bushfire burning through the Blue Mountains.
Fire activity is increasing around the 364,606 hectare blaze and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) says the fire is moving in a southerly direction towards Mount Wilson.
"If you are in the area of Mount Wilson, it is too late to leave," the RFS said.
"Seek shelter as the fire approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire."
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This large fire stretches from the Lithgow area in the west, through the Hawkesbury area and towards the Central Coast in the east including:
- North of Bell, Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine, Mt Tootie/Itchenstoke, Bilpin, Mountain Lagoon, Kurrajong, Upper Colo and the Colo River.
- West of St Albans Road, Wollombi Road, and the Great North Road between Webbs Creek in the south to Bucketty in the north.
- East of Newnes and Glen Alice.
- South west of The Ovens and Olinda Valley.
The Thompsons Creek fire has merged with this fire. It is burning near Higher MacDonald, Perrys Crossing, Fernances and Mogo Creek.
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The Little L Complex fire has merged with this fire near Boree.
Where conditions allow, crews will continue to conduct backburning to protect properties in a number of areas including Bilpin, Itchenstoke, Boree, Bucketty and north-east of Wallerwrang.
Planned back burning operations:
- Firefighters will be working to implement a tactical backburn on the Wolgan Road (at the Wolgan Gap) commencing at 7pm on Saturday
- The backburn will run from the Wolgan Gap for approximately 2.5 kilometres in a northerly direction to the valley floor.
- This operation will result in the Wolgan Road being closed for up to 48 hours.
- Residents north of Wolgan Gap on the Wolgan Road will have no access in or out during this time. Residents may choose to remain, but will need to be self-sufficient for this period.
The Gospers Mountain bushfire has been burning since October 26.
Stay up-to-date at Fires Near Me.
If your life is in danger or you see an unattended fire call triple-0.
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
