Multiple homes have been confirmed lost after fires ravaged parts of the Far South Coast.
RFS Building Damage Assessment Teams are still working to provide further details on how many properties have been affected, and their exact locations.
It comes after an emergency fire alert for the Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, Murrah and Bunga areas was downgraded overnight to a Watch and Act.
A southerly change and rainfall is responsible for the easing conditions.
RFS Spokesperson Angela Burford says people shouldn’t let their guard down, with the rain also creating its own issues.
“It [rain] can also cause some havoc on the fire ground in terms of causing slippery or boggy ground and potentially creating access difficulties for our firefighters,” she says.
“We saw a southerly influence move through that fire ground, with it bringing cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity and even some patchy rainfall. At about 1.30 this morning we were able to downgrade the alert level to Watch and Act.”
From fires to potential flood risk
This morning a Severe Weather Warning was issued for parts of Southern New South Wales, including the Far South Coast.
Senior Meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Jonathan How says high winds and heavy rainfall will affect the region later today.
“We are expecting damaging winds of potentially above 90km/h, that’s the kind of strength that could cause some of those weaker trees to blow over or some branches to fall,” he says.
“We’re reminding people if you are out or if you’re out in your car in the streets just to take extra care with those winds picking up through the morning.”
Current evacuation centres in the area are the Narooma Leisure Centre and the Bega Showgrounds.
For more information on the fire and active alerts, visit rfs.nsw.gov.au.
Current weather warnings can be found on the BOM website.
