The bushfire at Springwood Road, Yarramundi, has been controlled as firefighters successfully managed the fire as of 1:30 PM, the NSW Rural Fire Service reported.
It has now been downgraded to an Advice alert level.
The fire started at around midday, with crews responding immediately to the scene. The fire burned in an easterly direction along Springwood Road, and residents within the vicinity of the road were advised to prepare as the alert was raised to Watch and Act.
Due to its proximity to the nearby YMCA camp, students were relocated safely to the YMCA at Penrith.
According to the RFS, Springwood Road is still impacted due to a number of downed trees.
“With the windy conditions forecast to continue, firefighters will remain on scene for several hours to mop up and black out,” the RFS said.”
Coinciding with the fire is the persisting severe weather as spring enters. The NSW State Emergency Services have advised the community that ‘damaging winds’ are expected today, as it will affect parts of Southeastern NSW, including Sydney, until later this evening.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Weather Warning earlier today for Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, South West Slopes and Mid North Coast Forecast Districts.
“A strong westerly flow over southeast Australia will peak over NSW and ACT as an embedded low moves out of Bass Strait and an associated cold front crosses southern to central parts of NSW during the day,” the weather agency reported.
“Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are likely. The peak of the risk is until mid afternoon, or with shower activity in the south. Damaging gusts to 110km/h are possible across elevations above 500m during morning and early afternoon.”
A Total Fire Ban is also in place today, 2 September, for Greater Sydney and Illawarra/Shoalhaven areas.
