The Cobar Rural Fire Service (RFS) has had a busy few days fighting six bush fires that broke out in the Cobar Shire as a result of lightning strikes.
RFS District Manager of the Far West Team, Inspector Brad Lennon, who’s also been dealing with even more fires in the Far West area (including another fire in the Central Darling Shire), said it’s been an exhausting time for staff and volunteers since the first fire was reported on Friday.
“Lightning storms are unavoidable, but it was due to the ground cover and fuel loads as a result of the previous rain season, that the fires broke out,” Inspector Lennon said.
The fires in the Cobar Shire were widespread with the Cobar Headquarters, Louth Road, Tindarey, Geandale, Cubba, Noona, Bulla, Kulwin and Euabalong rural fire brigades all called upon to battle fires in the north, west and southern areas of the shire.
“Our awesome volunteers and machinery contractors did a great job and each fire was brought under control, most within a matter of hours, with some exceptions,” Inspector Lennon reported.
On Monday afternoon Inspector Lennon reported all fires were contained while some were still being patrolled.
He said there was no reported loss of machinery or livestock and roughly estimated that a combined area of approximately 80,000ha of land had been burnt out as a result of the fires.