FRIDAY UPDATE Crowdy Gap fire: 3200 hectares burnt

There are no threats to properties and backburning operations are underway. They will continue when and where conditions allow. This includes at the rear or properties from Industrial Avenue, along the northwest of Beach Street to Hogan Street in Harrington.

Firefighters from the NSW RFS, National Parks & Wildlife Service and Foresty Corporation are working on the fire. They have been assisted by waterbombing aircraft.

Crowdy Gap, Kylies Beach, Indian Head and Diamond Head Camp grounds remain closed due to the current firefighting operations.

Local roads may be closed or affected by smoke at times. Please slow down and drive to the conditions. Follow any instructions from emergency services and be aware of firefighters working on roadways.

The following roads are closed:

* Crowdy Bay Road open to local residents only

* Intersection of Coralville and Crowdy Bay Road

* Intersection of Indian Head Road and Diamond Head Road

* Stuarts Road

THURSDAY AFTERNOON: The fire has now burnt about 3000 hectares of scrub.

Backburning operations are underway when and where conditions allow. This includes at the rear or properties from Industrial Avenue, along the northwest of Beach Street to Hogan Street in Harrington.

Firefighters from the NSW RFS, National Parks & Wildlife Service and Foresty Corporation are working on the fire with help from waterbombing aircraft.

Crowdy Gap, Kylies Beach, Indian Head and Diamond Head Camp grounds remain closed due to the current firefighting operations. An assessment of the Camp grounds will be undertaken by noon on Friday to determine if they can be reopened to holidaymakers.

Local roads may be closed or affected by smoke at times. Please slow down and drive to the conditions. Follow any instructions from emergency services and be aware of firefighters working on roadways.

The following roads are closed:

* Crowdy Bay Road open to local residents only

* Intersection of Coralville and Crowdy Bay Road

* Intersection of Indian Head Road and Diamond Head Road

* Stuarts Road

THURSDAY 4pm:

The fire is burning in the Crowdy Bay National Park, between Harrington and Diamond Head.

The fire's northern edge has crossed Abbey Creek Road. The fire is burning close to properties around the intersection of Coralville Road and Diamond Head Road.

Firefighters and aircraft are working in the area.

The Diamond Head camping area has been closed. People who have relocated from the campground can go to the Laurieton United Services Club, 2 Seymour Street, Laurieton.

THURSDAY 2pm:

Crowdy Road is closed again due to the smoke.

Crews are on the ground helping to protect properties after the fire broke the containment lines between Coralville and Abbey Creek roads, Hastings Rural Fire Control Centre's liaison officer Paul McGrath said. Helicopters and planes are continuing the waterbombing from the air. 

THURSDAY 1.30pm:

The fire's northern edge has crossed Abbey Creek Road. The fire is burning close to properties around the intersection of Coralville Road and Diamond Head Road. Firefighters and aircraft are working in the area.

The fire has now burnt about 1600 hectares of scrub.

The Diamond Head camping area has been closed. People who have relocated from the campground can go to the Laurieton United Services Club, 2 Seymour Street, Laurieton.

THURSDAY 12.30pm:

Smoke from the Crowdy Bay bush fire has begun to blow across Port Macquarie, prompting a rush of emergency phone calls. The RFS has assured residents that, despite the smoke, the northern containment lines continue to hold.

There are several road closures south of Laurieton including the intersection of Indian Road and Diamond Head Road, as well as the intersection of Coralville Road and Crowdy Bay Road. Crowdy Bay Road is still open to local traffic and the RFS reports no properties are currently under threat.

The RFS has said 45 campers from Diamond Head have been relocated.  Laurieton United Services Club is evacuation point

THURSDAY 10.20am:

The bush fire is burning in the Crowdy Bay National Park, north of Harrington, but there are no properties under immediate threat.

Winds will increase throughtout the day which will put pressure on containment lines. Firefighters continue to work in the area of Harrington. They are being assisted by waterbombing aircraft.

Smoke is being blown towards Port Macquarie.

The following roads are closed:

* Intersection of Coralville and Crowdy Bay Road, Crowdy Bay Road open to local residents only

* Intersection of Indian Head Road and Diamond Head Road.

THURSDAY 9am:

The Crowdy Gap fire has burnt out more than 1000 hectares, shut off popular tourist spots and could well worsen on Thursday, Rural Fire Service authorities say.

The good news, according to RFS public liaison officer Paul McGrath, is that no properties are under threat this morning, but efforts are continuing to establish containment lines for the blaze following on from back burning efforts on Wednesday night.

“Crews are in place at Harrington and North of Harrington and we’ll be strengthening containment lines if conditions allow,” Mr McGrath said as crews expect winds ranging from 30 to 60km/h in the area

He said Crowdy Bay and Kylie’s Beach were closed with National Parks and Wildlife Service staff at the ready to relocate campers at Diamond Head if needed.

“Any fire is challenging, however with the school holidays and the long weekend and the area being one of the major tourist destinations for NSW,  Diamond Head is at peak capacity.

“Local roads could be closed without warning, our major message to residents is to monitor the situation and follow advice from firefighters and emergency services in the area to follow their bushfire survival plan.”

Authorities have said they are perplexed at just how the fire started. However, for the moment, they are concerned with containing the fire.

While no total fire ban has been declared for Thursday, residents in the  Belligen, Coffs Harbour, Gloucester, Great Lakes, Greater Taree, Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie-Hastings areas are warned of high fire danger conditions.