More than 150 Rural Fire Service bushfire fighters and members of the National Parks & Wildlife Service are continuing a coordinated approach to work on a number of fires burning in the Wollemi National Park, Parr State Conservation Area and Blue Mountains National Park. These fires started from numerous lightning strikes that were experienced throughout the Hawkesbury on Thursday and Friday evening.

This led to a bushfire emergency being declared under section 44 of the Rural Fires Act 1997.

Today additional fire fighting resources were brought into the Hawkesbury from Hornsby / Ku-ring-gai, Warringah / Pittwater to help local crews.

These visiting crews have been delployed in Kurrajong Heights to be available for a rapid response if required. Additional Hawkesbury crews have also been positioned in Blaxlands Ridge.

The two major updates are on the Clews Ridge Fire and the Wollemi National Park fire, both in remote bushland regions.

The Clews Ridge Fire is 12km west of Colo Heights and broke its containment lines Sunday afternoon.

This fire is burning within remote inaccessible terrain that is hampering access for ground crews to undertake fire fighting activities.

Three fixed wing aircraft dropping retardant have been working on this fire for the past couple of hours establishing control lines. The fire remains on the western side of the Colo River and has some activity on the south western perimeter. There are no immediate threats to any properties within the vicinity of this fire.

On the other fire fronts, crews will continue to undertake fire fighting activities on a number of other fires within the Hawkesbury Area.

Bulldozers were able to complete the consolidation of access trails during Saturday night into the Webbs Creek and D’Arcy Range Fires.

Early Sunday morning ground crews were able to access these fires and have continued to work on this fire throughout the day.

All residents are reminded that there is a Total Fire Ban in place in the Hawkesbury Area until Midnight 22 November 2009.

Fire situations can change rapidly.

Fire updates and fire safety and preparations advice can be obtained from www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737)

All residents and visitors to the Hawkesbury are urged to remain vigilant, be alert and stay informed of the current fire activity. Plan your travel route & listen to local radio stations. Ensure you have an alternate route planned in case of road closures.