Weather conditions have improved for firefighters battling the Gospers Mountain blaze, with retardant line drops planned in the vicinity of Higher MacDonald and St Albans today (Wednesday).
The blaze is now nearly 150,000 hectares in size and continues to burn uncontained in the Wollemi, Yengo National Parks and the Parr State Recreation Area.
"The fire is burning to the north of Colo Heights, south of Putty, east of Glen Davis and west of St Albans in the Lithgow, Hawkesbury and Singleton Local Government Areas," a statement from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.
"The weather conditions late Tuesday night after a southerly change and throughout Wednesday should be more favourable for fire fighting operations."
Firefighters are being assisted by water bombing aircraft to protect properties and have undertaken extensive back burning operations in the areas of Webbs Creek towards Colo Heights, around St Albans and areas around Putty.
"These operations are to reduce possible impacts upon these communities. Further back burning will be implemented to protect communities as conditions allow," the RFS stated.
Yesterday's hot and windy weather conditions saw an increase in fire activity in Putty, Colo Heights and St Albans, with strike teams defending properties with aircraft support.
Colo Heights, Upper Colo, Webbs Creek and St Albans residents through to Higher MacDonald should implement bush fire survival plans, and property owners have been requested to remain vigilant to changing conditions.
"Containment strategies have been implemented along the top of the escarpment above Glen Davis. The Very Large Aerial Tanker (VLAT) and Large Ariel Tanker (LAT) are dropping retardant the fire on top of the escarpment," the RFS stated. "Helicopters have water bucketed to cool hotspots approaching the retardant line. Fire fighters are on standby if the fire drops over the escarpment.
"Other retardant line drops are planned around other areas but in particular in the vicinity of Higher MacDonald and St Albans. Extra fire fighters and trucks are on the fire protecting properties."
The service advised that St Albans Road will be closed from the Webbs Creek Ferry to St Albans. Locals can access St Albans via Settlers Road.
Putty Road remains closed from the Colo river to Milbrodale, and Bicentenary and Wheelbarrow Ridge Roads also remain closed due to ongoing operations in the area.
A community meeting is planned for 8pm tonight at Colo Heights Rural Fire Brigade station to keep affected communities informed of the fire situation and emergency arrangements. The meeting will be presented by firefighters and incident management team members along with NSW Police.
Colo Heights Public School, Macdonald Valley Public School, and Wisemans Ferry Public School remain closed today due to bushfire related conditions.
Stay up to date with the situation at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or by calling the NSW RFS Bushfire Information Line on 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737) or via the Fires Near Me app.
Animal owners can contact the Local Land Services Hotline on 1800 814 647 if you need emergency assistance or the location of the large animal welfare centres.
For information on road conditions or closures, call the RMS on 132 213 or check www.livetraffic.com Roads may be closed without warning.
For information on closures of National Parks associated with this fire, please visit www.npws.nsw.gov.au
