Update Wednesday, November 13
AN emergency alert for the Gospers Mountain bushfire has been reduced to a Watch and Act notice for the Putty area.
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The fire is burning in the area of Mellong and moving in a northerly direction towards Putty.
"Fire activity has reduced after a southerly wind change moved over the fireground," the Rural Fire Service stated at 3.15am on Wednesday morning.
A watch and act alert means there is a still a heightened level of threat and the fire remains out of control.
Putty Road remains closed between Milbrodale Road and Long Weeney Creek trail.
Update
AN emergency warning alert has been issued for the Gospers Mountain bushfire with the giant blaze burning within four kilometres of Putty.
Extreme fire conditions and strong winds have fanned the blaze towards the east on Tuesday.
"The fire is threatening the areas north of Culoul and south of Fleetwing," the warning by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) states.
"Fire activity is increasing in the areas of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald."
The NSW RFS' advice:
- If you are in the areas north of Kallool and south of Fleet Wing, seek shelter as the fire approaches.
- If you are in the area of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald, and your plan is to leave, leave now to a safer location.
- A safer location may include a built up area, well away from bushland.
The Putty Road is closed from Colo River to Grey Gums.
What you need to do
- If you are threatened by fire, you may not get assistance.
- If you are in these areas and your plan is to leave, or your property is not prepared, leave towards a safer location.
- Safer locations include built up areas, well away from bushland.
- If you are unable to leave, identify a safer location which may be nearby. This may include a cleared area well away from bushland, or an identified Neighbourhood Safer Place www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/nsp
- Avoid bushland areas.
- A southerly change is forecast early on Wednesday morning. This may push the fire in a northerly direction.
If you are threatened by fire
- Do not be in the path of the fire.
- Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. Wear protective clothing and footwear. Cover all exposed skin.
- If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero
Update 1.49pm
THE Gospers Mountain fire could travel significantly towards the east on Tuesday afternoon, a predictive fire map shows.
The NSW Rural Fire Service's (RFS) map shows under that under the extreme fire danger risk, and with predicted southerly winds on Tuesday afternoon, the fire had the ability to spread significantly.
"Fire activity is increasing in the areas of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald," the NSW RFS alert states.
The RFS' advice for people in these areas if that they plan to leave the region due to the bushfire, that they should leave now.
What you need to do
- If you are threatened by fire, you may not get assistance.
- If you are in these areas and your plan is to leave, or your property is not prepared, leave towards a safer location.
- Safer locations include built up areas, well away from bushland.
- If you are unable to leave, identify a safer location which may be nearby. This may include a cleared area well away from bushland, or an identified Neighbourhood Safer Place www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/nsp
- Avoid bushland areas.
- A southerly change is forecast early on Wednesday morning. This may push the fire in a northerly direction.
If your life is at risk call triple-0.
Earlier
RESIDENTS in Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald near the Wollemi National Park who plan to leave in case of a bushfire should leave now, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) says.
The Gospers Mountain fire burning through the Wollemi National Park has grown to 30,417 hectares and is being spread by strong winds in an extreme fire danger day.
"Fire activity is increasing," the NSW RFS said in its alert to residents.
READ MORE: NSW fire victims demand climate action
"If you are in the area of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald, and your plan is to leave, leave now to a safer location.
"A safer location may include a built up area, well away from bushland."
The Putty Road is closed from Colo River to Grey Gums.
The fire currently is listed at 'advice' level and being controlled.
The Lithgow local government area is experiencing extreme fire danger on Tuesday with NSW RFS operation officer Brett Taylor warning that fires burning under these conditions cannot be stopped.
Meanwhile, all state forests are closed with Lithgow TAFE and Blackheath Public School closed on Tuesday.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said there are volatile fire conditions right across the state.
"We can expect pretty significant fires to break out ... whatever fires we get that start under those winds will burn very aggressively," he said.
Check and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.
Check out the Fires Near Me website or app.
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