01/01/2025
The final days of 2019 saw fire ravage the southeast of NSW, as extreme fire behaviour led to several fires breaking containments lines and making significant runs towards populated areas, particularly around the South Coast.
Near the township of Belowra, 50km northwest of Cobargo, the Badja Forest Rd, Countegany Fire impacted properties within the Belowra Valley. Firefighter Colin Burns was tragically killed on his own property, when the ute he was driving was overrun by fire as he travelled to the local fire station.
Further west, on the Green Valley, Talmalmo Fire burning near Jingellic, about 70km east of Albury, Firefighter Samual McPaul from the Morven Brigade was killed after the fire truck he was in was suddenly impacted by extreme winds from a pyrocumulonimbus thunderstorm, causing the vehicle to lift off the ground, flip over and land on its roof. The two other firefighters in the truck were also injured, while a second RFS vehicle was blown over, injuring another firefighter.
Over the New Year period, fires burnt through to the coastline, prompting emergency services to issue several Tourist Leave Zones ahead of Catastrophic fire danger forecast on 4 January 2024.
On the five-year anniversary, we remember all those who lost their lives and think about the communities who were impacted by these fires.
📸 Alex Ellinghausen SMH
