UPDATED 7pm
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AUTHORITIES have declared a fire at Tallong as “very secure” following a containment effort.
The outbreak is burning down in a gorge close to Badgerys Point Lookout, some 7km east of the village, RFS community liaison officer, Peter Dyce said.
Three to four RFS units from Tallong and Marulan comprising 12 personnel joined National Parks ground crews and aerial support fighting the blaze in Morton National Park. It started between 3pm and 4pm this afternoon.
Mr Dyce said the fire was coming up the gorge but then turning back on itself, hence its secure status.
Police were advising residents of the outbreak but not evacuating them.
Mr Dyce said the blaze was only a threat if it rose of the gorge. He expected it to be contained by tomorrow morning. Units will stay until it’s safe to leave.
He described today as a quiet one, compared to yesterday, with a fire earlier today beside the Hume Highway at Marulan and Tallong this afternoon. The former was started by a slasher but the cause of Tallong’s was unknown at this stage.
The fire danger was downgraded from catastrophic yesterday to very high today. Tomorrow is expected to be high. A total fire ban remains in place across the state.
Meantime, Southern Tablelands units assisting at the Yass fires will stay all night.
This afternoon Premier Barry O’Farrell and Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that Goulburn Mulwaree was one of the 37 council areas that would qualify for natural disaster assistance.