Winds in Australia that have changed directions several times in recent days have been pushing a large bushfire in multiple directions. The Tingha Fire that started Sunday in New South Wales has burned around the community of Tingha closing roads in and out of the community. The blaze is between Inverell and Guyra.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters indicate “numerous properties” including homes, sheds and other outbuildings were damaged or destroyed Wednesday afternoon.
ABC Australia reported that a 40-year old woman was charged with allowing her trash fire to escape, which ignited what has developed into a 30,600-acre (12,400 ha) wildfire.
The Rural Fire Service said winds on Thursday are expected to push the fire closer to Gilgai. Other areas threatened include Old Mill, Stannifer, Guyra Road east of Tingha, and the Howell Road area. But weather conditions on Thursday should be more favorable for firefighters.
On the map below, Tingha is in the center — where two major roads intersect.
Firefighters are facing tough conditions at the fire at Tingha. The fire has impacted on a number of rural properties and is burning on the northern and southern side of the town. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/jqnMqzaj6Y
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 13, 2019
What a wonderfull job our fire fighters and SES folks have done in tingha over the last few days we owe them our lives as I live there and saw what was happening its a miracle no one lost their lives and more homes were lost it was the most terrifying situation we were but those guys and ladies all were great also the planes and helicopters thanks so much your so wonderfull.