Flames shoot from treetops as blaze erupts in central Wagga

FIREFIGHTERS have been praised for their lightning response to a fast-moving bushfire that burned dangerously close to homes and businesses in central Wagga on Saturday.

The fire erupted in dry grass near the intersection of Lake Albert Road and Copland Street at Kooringal just after 4pm, before pushing into the Willans Hill Reserve.

Video filmed by a motorist who had pulled over on Copland Street captured the first minutes of the blaze as it flared beneath high-voltage powerlines in hot, gusty winds.

The vision, shared with The Junee Bulletin, showed arcing powerlines exploding as the fire burned around them, amplifying already dangerous conditions.

An 83km/h north-westerly wind gust was recorded at Wagga Airport at 4.17pm, with gusts above 60km/h still being recorded during the height of the fire.

It capped off a searing couple of days, with the mercury reaching 35.9°C in Wagga on Saturday following a scorching 39.2°C on Friday.

Photo: Shen Billingham

A Watch and Act alert was issued at 5pm, with the NSW Rural Fire Service warning of a “heightened level of threat” as the fire chewed its way up the eastern slope between Captain Cook Drive and Lake Albert Road.

The magnitude, speed and ferocity of the blaze caught many by surprise as it ripped through dry bushland and came close to threatening homes on Beauty Point Avenue and Warrawong Street.

Both streets were closed during the emergency, along with a section of Lake Albert Road.

Photo: Marguerite McKinnon

Video filmed by Melissa Harris showed towering flames shooting high above treetops on the hillside above Lake Road Veterinary Hospital.

She was sitting in a car at the intersection of Lake Albert Road and Railway Street as the fire escalated directly in front of her.

The animal hospital was forced to close during the height of the fire and prepare for a possible evacuation.

“We are deeply sorry to those emergencies we had to turn away. With the fire risk so close, our priority had to be preparing for immediate evacuation under the guidance of police and fire authorities,” the centre wrote on Facebook.

More than half-a-dozen Fire and Rescue NSW and RFS crews worked in challenging conditions and difficult terrain to protect properties and extinguish the fire, while police assisted with traffic control.

Photo: Shen Billingham

Photo: Shen Billingham

Thanks to a rapid ground attack, supported by an Air Tractor from Griffith, crews were able to halt the fire’s spread and contain the blaze, allowing the alert level to be downgraded to Advice at 5.51pm.

Firefighters remained on the scene into the evening, with the fire not fully extinguished until 8.30pm.

Lake Road Veterinary Hospital later thanked staff, responders and the community for their support.

“To everyone who stepped in — helping prepare our patients for possible evacuation, hosing down our gardens, protecting the hospital, and to our dedicated team who came in early or stayed late — from the bottom of our hearts, thank you,” the centre said.

Photo: Shen Billingham

Photo: Shen Billingham

“Your kindness, calmness and teamwork kept our patients safe during a very stressful and uncertain time.”

“We also want to give a massive, heartfelt shout-out to the incredible firefighters who worked tirelessly to keep our humans, patients, and property safe.”

“To the police, who managed traffic, kept our community safe, and supported emergency access — thank you. And to the air tankers and crews who made critical drops that protected Lake Road when it mattered most — we are truly grateful.”

Photo: Shen Billingham

A waterbombing air tractor from Griffith was called in to help contain the blaze | Photo: Supplied/Shen Billingham

The fire also coincided with a wave of power outages across several Wagga suburbs, with Essential Energy reporting more than 2300 customers without electricity in Lake Albert, Tolland, Tatton, Bourkelands and Springvale.

Power was restored by 7pm, and winds had eased considerably, with gusts at Wagga Airport dropping to around 35km/h.

Photo: Shen Billingham

Photo: Shen Billingham

Saturday’s incident adds to the more than 50 bush and grass fires that have ignited across the Riverina Zone since November 1, with local RFS crews describing it as the “most significant start to a bushfire danger period in many years.”

Residents are urged to stay informed by checking the Hazards Near Me app, visiting the NSW RFS website, tuning into local radio, or calling the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.