The Tamworth RFS has been spread thin on the ground as lightning strikes and extreme conditions sparked six blazes in just four days.
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The region will have a total fire ban in place on Friday, after lightning strikes set off four fires overnight on Wednesday, just days after two others sparked up.
The RFS had already been battling, and had beaten, a blaze at Hall’s Creek west of Bendemeer in the past few weeks before more lightning strikes saw the fires return on Wednesday night.
Superintendent Allyn Purkiss confirmed that crews were battling blazes to the north-west and south of the original fire site, as well as an uncontained fire in between.
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“Crews are on site and are being assisted by helicopters on the fires to the south and north-west,” he said.
“They are hoping to hold those fires overnight; however, the fire in between is not contained and is pretty active.”
On Thursday afternoon, crews and aircraft were hoping to use containment lines from the former fire to hold that blaze but, due to a sheer lack of numbers on the ground, would be forced to “allow that fire to burn for at least a few more days”.
Meanwhile, with the assistance of some National Parks crews, they were confident of being able to contain a fire that started on Wednesday evening in the Hanging Rock region.
Crews from Armidale had been called in to assist with another blaze north of Warrabah National Park.
“That fire has jumped what was a fairly average containment line, although with some heavy plant equipment and the Armidale crews we are hoping to hold that on a fall-back line,” Supt Purkiss said.
“We are also patrolling and containing a fire on the Bundarra-Barraba Road.”
While the RFS is used to this being the busy season, these latest blazes come on the back of an extremely busy 12 months due to the hot and dry drought conditions.
“It is nuts at the moment. We just keep getting smashed – it is a very difficult time,” Supt Purkiss said.
“People need to be wary. A total fire ban means no open fires at all, no campfires and no hot works – nothing with sparks.
“There are very hefty fines in place, which will see people caught with fires fined $132,000 and/or seven years’ jail.”
Other blazes continue to rage across the region.
A major fire – also started by a lightning strike – was raging in thick forest country between Pine Ridge Road and Old Bundarra Road near Inverell, while four more fires were being fought in the Coonabarabran region.
Total fire bans are in place on 13 regions for Friday, including North Western, Northern Slopes and Hunter.
