Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received reports that a fire was tearing through Dry Gully, threatening homes fronting the creek bed behind Grevillia Place in Oxley Vale, about 3.30pm this afternoon.

FRNSW crews from Tamworth and West Tamworth responded to the incident, which would see them remain on scene for at least the next three-and-a-half hours.

“On arrival, there was a lot of smoke and flames,” Tamworth 452 station officer Glen Willsallen told The Leader at the scene.

“Residents were worried about the fire impacting their homes, so another truck from West Tamworth, plus two RFS tankers from Tamworth and Moore Creek responded.

“Hazard reduction was put in place, so that effectively burnt the area where the fire hadn’t got to, which when it’s all finished, this whole area now is all burned.

“So for the rest of this summer, if there is a fire, it will only be a very minor one, and it shouldn’t impact any homes or people.”

By 6.30pm, the fire had all but been extinguished. 

It was only a remaining beehive in one of the trees that remained alight, and would later be covered in a sticky foam to extinguish it.

It’s still unclear how the blaze started, but crews believe it could be firebugs at play.

“Don’t do it, don’t be dumb,” Officer Willsallen warned.

“Don’t light a fire.

“You’ll get caught, you’ll put people in danger, you’re tying up resources that could otherwise be used for other emergencies.

“One little fire for a bit of fun and laughs quickly turns into five acres of what just happened here.

“If the wind had have been 90 degrees in the complete opposite direction, a number of homes would have been in danger.”