Thunderstorms which hit a major bushfire in northwest NSW have been a mixed blessing, bringing much needed rain but also making for erratic fire behaviour.
While some residents welcomed the change, others faced a renewed emergency warning and were told to shelter as the oncoming fire approached.
The emergency warning was issued at around 6:30pm on the evening of Dec. 19 at which point the out-of-control Duck Creek Pilliga Forest blaze was burning about 17km south of Narrabri and 21km west of Boggabri.
The warning was downgraded soon after to a watch and act as heavy rain fell across the region.
“Thunderstorms have moved across the fireground, initially causing some erratic fire behaviour and lightning strikes,” the Rural Fire Service said in a statement.
“Rain is now falling across parts of the fireground.”
Shane Allan, whose parents own Bohena Pet Motel on the Newell Highway south of Narrabri, said the family had evacuated the animals and was preparing to fight any fires that broke out on the property.
Mr. Allan told AAP on Dec. 19 the rains came as a major relief as trees along the property boundary began to ignite.
“It was just starting to bust through our border coming past our fence, and then the storm hit,” he said.
“Mother nature came to our rescue. You couldn’t have planned it any better.”
“I think we’re all going to have a cold beer now and throw a steak on the stove.”
Mr. Allan and others spent days watching the fire from afar and preparing for conditions to turn.
“We’ve been sitting out and watching it because it was so close but just not moving this way,” he said.
“The first night it was like the sun, it was bright as.”
On Tuesday evening, residents in the area of Baan Baa, Willala, Goolhi, Rocky Glen, Jack Creek, Bohena Creek, Stannix Park and Wynella, were told to stay alert and monitor conditions.
