Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service incident controller Greg Wardle said the hazard reduction from 18 months ago around Mt Solitary saved townships during this current bushfire crisis.
"Whether you are for or against hazard reduction burns is beside the point, I just want to make a point that without that burn this [Ruined Castle] fire [that got out of control on September 1] would have been over Kings Tableland Road in the back of the townships from Wentworth Falls through to Springwood," RFS Superintendent Wardle told a packed crowd at one of this week's many community meetings.
"It was that burn and lower fuels that allowed firefighters to stop the spread of that fire, stop it jumping onto the escarpment and under a westerly wind taken out the southern side of Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls, that is no exaggeration under the weather conditions and the fire conditions we have experienced," he added.
"That's what would have happened. Firefighters on the ground have done a magnificent job."
The Ruined Castle fire is now contained and "in a state of patrol" from the ground and air. The Grose Valley fire is also under control. The fires have burnt 17,058 hectares and 19,922 hectares respectively. Both fires would continue to be monitored until there was significant rainfall.
"We are comfortable but still wary," Mr Wardle told one of two community meetings at Wentworth Falls to considerable applause on Monday night.
More than 200 firefighters started a strategic backburn over 50 kilometres of trails from Wentworth Falls to Glenbrook on Monday, while a cooler weather window was in place.
It is in response to the Erskine Creek fire (north of Lake Burragorang, Warragamba Dam) which has burnt 13,600 hectares and is out of control. The fire has progressed north in the Kings Tableland Rd area.
Supt Wardle said extra fire service teams and aircraft were using the three days of benign conditions to conduct the backburning operation, without stripping the rest of the Mountains of fire fighting coverage.
"We are in severe drought. We are seeing fire activity not seen in living memory in some areas of our firegrounds. "
A number of rolling meetings were scheduled up and down the Mountains this week to keep the public up-to-date about the Erskine Creek bushfire and the scheduled backburns.
Supt Wardle, has been redirected from the Illawarra to manage the Mountains fires. He grew up in the region. He said the best way residents could prepare for fire is to clean up around your home and prepare your bushfire survival plan.
Supt Wardle said none of the Mountains fires had been deliberately lit - they had been started by lightning strikes.
The landmark 3,500 hectare Mt Solitary burn was a burn done in the Jamison Valley floor in an area that had not burnt for more than 50 years. It had been planned and cancelled on two occasions due to poor weather conditions.
Blaxland RFS Community Meeting
Date: Thursday January 9
Time: 6.30pm
Location: Blaxland High School hall, 3-9 Coughlan Rd, Blaxland.
