AT LEAST three fires started after lightning strikes in the Moree/Narrabri Rural Fire Service (RFS) area during a severe thunderstorm yesterday afternoon, authorities said.
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Superintendent Michael Brooks told The Leader about 4pm that no houses were under threat; by 5.20pm he was able to say that at least three fires had started but were now all under control.
One, at Middle Creek, near Maules Creek, had burnt out 40 hectares.
The other two fires – one at Gwabegar and one at Mt Kaputar – were both under control.
It came during yet another heatwave to hit the region in recent weeks, with the baking temperatures set to continue until later today, when a southerly front is expected to bring cooler winds.
It is the third heatwave the region has experienced since October 25, with the first one smashing October high-temperature records.
This followed a severe thunderstorm warning, including large hailstones and heavy rainfall, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology early yesterday afternoon for Northern Tablelands towns such as Tenterfield and Tabulam.
A further warning was issued about 5pm for damaging winds at Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Ebor.
Yesterday on the North West Slopes and Plains, Walgett easily reached the highest temperature: 45.7 degrees about 2.10pm.
Next hottest was Narrabri on 42.8, followed by Gunnedah and Moree on 42.3 degrees; Tamworth hit its high of 41.7 about 1.15pm.
On the Northern Tablelands, Inverell was the hottest town yesterday, reaching 37.7 degrees about 2.15pm.
The Namoi radar was registering isolated heavy storms at Barraba and Coolah around 3.15pm yesterday; by 5pm a much wider band of storm activity was unfolding across the plains and, in particular, on the tablelands.
Between 9am and 5pm yesterday, Gunnedah received 3mm of rain.
Inspector Steve Prior of Tamworth RFS said that the Rapid Aerial Response Team, based at Tamworth Airport at the weekend, had not been called out and that, apart from a fire that burnt out two hectares near Bendemeer late Friday, no other fires had been reported within the Tamworth RFS area.
There was no fire ban in place for the Tamworth RFS district yesterday and Inspector Prior doubted whether a total fire ban would be in place today, as there were no strong winds to create the deadly trifecta perfect for fire: high heat, low humidity and strong winds.
“We’ve been very lucky today that we don’t have the high winds to go with the high temperatures,” he said.
A spokesman said Tamworth City Pool was “flat-out” during the weekend, with many people unable to get into Scully Pool because of a swimming carnival.
