Temperatures in the 30s and strong northerlies along the north coast today pose a challenge for firefighters working to keep under control a large bushfire now smouldering north of Lennox Head.
The blaze, which started on Sunday and is believed to have be caused by a lightning strike, has burnt out around 740 acres of native bushland between Lennox and Broken Head.
While overnight rain helped ease fire conditions, scores of Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from around the north coast have stayed put, wary of further re-ignitions.
The firefighters managed to keep a check on the wind-fanned fire on Wednesday night after it jumped containment lines, forcing the closure of Coast Road between Lennox and Byron Bay.
Motorists have been forced to detour around the area where the air is heavy with smoke.
The RFS has warned of the risks involved with a ‘very high’ fire danger rating today and temperatures forecast in the low to mid 30s and 20–30km/h northwesterly winds.
Wildlife carers have also urged the public to be aware of wildlife affected by the bushfire emerging from the ravaged bushland.
They have asked people to call wildlife carers if they come across an injured animal.
Small fires also erupted in other parts of the north coast in the past couple of days, at Nightcap National Park and at Hidden Valley, Tyalgum, which were soon brought under control by RFS volunteers.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
