[Back to Narrabri Weather Home Page]

Sawn Rocks/Killarney Gap Fire in November 2009

During Mid-November 2009 there was a heatwave with 40-42 degree temperatures recorded in Narrabri for more than a week. Humidity levels were as low as 15% and authorities were warning of severe bushfire danger.

A fire in the Pilliga Forest burned out about 800 ha. before being controlled by fire crews. Unfortunately at the same time a car and caravan heading to Bingara caught on fire near Sawn Rocks/Killarney Gap which started a bushfire. The driver of the vehicle received third degree burns and was airlifted to hospital in Sydney.

The effort to combat the fire in the National Park involved multiple agencies and involved heavy machinery and at least four aircraft. Some properties came under close threat but firefighters did a superb job to help defend the properties.

Satellite image, right, courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response Project at NASA/GSFC.

View of the fire near the house. Photo by Tricia Hadley. RFS fixed-wing waterbomber in action. Photo by Tricia Hadley.
Command helicopter. Photo by Tricia Hadley. View showing how close the fire came to property. RFS units helped to defend the house. Photo by Tricia Hadley.
RFS crews pushing containment lines. Photo by Tricia Hadley. Another photo of the fire close to the house. Photo by Tricia Hadley.
RFS helicopter making a carefully targeted water drop. Photo by Tricia Hadley. Bushfire in the hills. Photo by Tricia Hadley.
RFS staging area. Volunteers came from far and wide to assist local crews combat the fire. Photo by Tricia Hadley. Nighttime shot of the bushfire. Photo by Tricia Hadley.