Six volunteer firefighters from the Brooklyn NSW Rural Fire Service brigade on the Hawkesbury were injured after a large class one tanker overturned near Moruya while fighting the Clyde Mountain fire on Thursday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
NSW Police said the truck rolled down an embankment on the Princes Highway near Mogo about 10.55pm.
"All six crew members were able to remove themselves from the vehicle. They were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics, before being taken to hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries, including neck pain, back pain and lacerations," police said.
Two were released on Thursday night, and the other four had been kept for observation. Two of these four had been released on Friday morning, and it was hoped they would all be heading home in the afternoon.
Rural Fire Service Inspector Kelwyn White said the strike team had come from Region East, which covers the greater Sydney Basin.
"Yesterday was a stark reminder the season is far from over," he said.
"Despite the efforts of all agencies, the deteriorating weather pushed fire into our communities again."
"From today onward, we have mild conditions and we will focus on consolidating containment lines and securing edges. We still have a long way to go until the end of the fire season."
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he had been briefed on the incident by the RFS. An investigation is ongoing and he would not speculate on further details.
South Coast residents faced a challenging night on Thursday.
Properties are reported to have been lost but the RFS would not confirm this until a building impact assessment was undertaken on Friday.
Gusty winds and hot temperatures pushed the Clyde Mountain fire across Araluen Road on Thursday, causing it to spread quickly towards Moruya.
The NSW Rural Fire Service had warned residents of Moruya, West Moruya, Mogendoura and Wamban to seek shelter as the fire arrived. Residents in areas from Moruya to Tuross Head, and Bumbo, Bodalla and Eurobodalla were told it was too late to leave.
As of Friday morning, residents in those areas were advised to monitor conditions.
The RFS said conditions were expected to ease on Friday as a southerly change brought light rain and cooler conditions to fire grounds across the South Coast.
Bodalla resident Duncan McLaughlin sheltered with his parents in a cellar as the fire front swept through their Bumbo Road acreage shortly after 3pm on Thursday.
They emerged to find their home safe, but outbuildings burning fiercely and their water supply exhausted.
The family feared for their many horses and Mr McLaughlin broke down when the herd was found safe, despite blazing creek flats and paddocks.
The fire continued to push towards the coast, with Turlinjah and Tuross Head residents on alert.
The fires have closed the Princes Highway between Cobargo and Bermagui Road and between Hector McWilliam Dr and Wiltshire Lane.
Essential Energy said 7600 properties lost power due to the fire activity, including those in Rosedale, Mossy Point, Broulee, Tomakin, Malua Bay, Moruya, Mogendoura, Cobargo, Bermagui, Wallaga Lake and Beauty Point.
Many residents of Akolele, Wallaga Lake and Coolagolite evacuated to Bermagui to seek shelter.
Further south the Bega evacuation centre was again opened, awaiting anyone requiring aid from the multiple fires burning out of control.
The Currowan fire, burning between Batemans Bay and Kangaroo Valley, was not upgraded from advice on Thursday. Its status is labelled as "being controlled".
READ MORE:
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said Thursday's bushfires were threatening the same areas in southern NSW that were scorched in recent weeks.
"Down through the region it's been very hot, very dry and it's been very windy," he said.
"It was another very difficult, aggressive fire weather day, which resulted in so many of these fires spreading and breaking out."