On Saturday January 13 a bushfire near Masonite Road threatened the communities of Tomago, Williamtown, and Raymond Terrace 17 Km north of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
(If you don’t see the video below shot from an air attack aircraft, click HERE.)
Emergency Warning: Masonite Rd fire, Tomago. Fire moving in Nth’ly direction away from Cabbage Tree Rd towards Raymond Terrace & Campvale areas. Residents on SE side of Raymond Terrace & those in Campvale area advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches https://t.co/uoCV1J7lWGpic.twitter.com/E0PK23q90m
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 13, 2018
The weather changed, bringing a little precipitation after it had burned 1,381 hectares (3,412 acre), slowing the spread. For a while the Newcastle airport was closed due to visibility reduced by smoke.
The fire was fought by 66 firefighters from the Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. They were assisted by helicopters and Air Tanker 912, a DC-10 that was recently renamed “Nancy Bird” in honor of an Australian aviatrix.
https://blog.nature.org/science/2018/01/12/australian-firehawk-raptors-intentionally-spread-wildfires/?src=social.nature.facebook.main
We covered this two years ago.
https://wildfiretoday.com/2016/02/07/did-humans-learn-how-to-use-fire-as-a-management-tool-from-birds/