The scenic skies over Australia’s iconic North Belongil beach in Byron Bay have been replaced by ominous thick smoke plumes, as a bushfire of considerable magnitude engulfs the horizon. The unbridled flames, fanned into frenzy, have already laid waste to approximately 140 hectares of land in the vicinity of the beach, a frightening sight for the besieged residential neighbourhoods nearby.
As the battle against the unrestrained inferno enters its third day, firefighters persist in their efforts to reign in the flames. The fire, located roughly five kilometres northwest of Byron Bay, is making its presence felt between key areas such as Bayshore Drive, Black Rock Road and Ewingsdale Road.
The local inhabitants and visiting tourists alike are urged to remain vigilant as they keep an eye on the evolving conditions of the fire. Regularly checking the RFS website for recent alerts is strongly advised.
On Monday, the fire danger notably escalated in northern NSW, reaching alarming levels and necessitating a total fire ban.
The perils faced by the region are starkly highlighted in an aerial video that employs thermal imaging to give a chilling sense of the sprawling land area currently being consumed by fire. Moreover, its close proximity to the coast makes it all the more worrying.
Several beachgoers have taken to social media to unleash a flood of alarming images displaying the gruesomely thick dark plumes of ominous smoke emerging from the bushland bordering Byron’s prized coastline.
An update from the RFS Far North Coast was released earlier, stating, “There is currently no threat to property and the fire is burning between Grays Lane and Ewingsdale Rd.” As of 1:30 pm, the firefighting teams, backed up by aircraft, are relentlessly working towards achieving complete containment of the incandescent enemy.
While the smoky blanket is forecast to continue its journey south throughout the day, it is an anticipated relief that the smoke will be comparably lighter than it was on Sunday. It is expected to waft across Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Suffolk Park & Ballina.
To ensure the preservation of residents’ safety and avoid jeopardizing the aerial response teams, locals are firmly reminded to refrain from flying drones near the raging bushfires, following multiple incidents of drone activity reported earlier. The unwarranted presence of drones during such emergencies could pose a profound risk, potentially grounding crucial aircraft involved in the firefighting efforts.
