NSW fire authorities are directing ‘considerable resources’ to the Brunswick Heads area as the North Byron fire burns in a northerly direction through the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
Fuelled by strong, gusting winds from the south, the fire has been given the status ‘out of control’ by the RFS having earlier been described as ‘being controlled’.
However, the alert level remains at ‘Advice’, which means that residents are advised to monitor conditions closely.
NSW fire commissioner Rob Rogers told ABC radio authorities had lots of resources on hand to protect properties in the Brunswick Heads area, including multiple trucks and helicopters.
‘We’re also hoping to get some air tankers to the area shortly,’ he said.
Commissioner Rogers said people who did not need to be in and around Brunswick Heads were being advised to stay away.
‘There are strong gusting winds that are blowing the fire in a northerly direction,’ he said.
‘There is a large amount of heathland that is currently burning quite quickly because it’s a dry area.’
It’s hoped that the winds will drop off, but they are predicted to continue blowing into the evening and into tomorrow.
It’s also hoped that the fire will run out of fuel, given that it’s a relatively narrow strip of bush land.
‘It is proving problematic at the moment,’ Commissioner Rogers said of the fire.
The fire, which started near Habitat, off Bayshore Drive, has now been burning for more than 70 hours.
Earlier this afternoon it broke containment lines to the north side of Grays Lane, Tyagarah.
The fire started north of Byron Bay in bushland near Bayshore Drive and has continued to move north since then.
Stay tuned for more updates
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