Update at 4.30pm Friday, Tallong
There is increased fire activity in the Caroura Rd fire, which is attached to the Morton Fire.
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NSW RFS Operational officer Lachlan Gilchrist had been at Tallong today inspecting the fire front.
"The crews are continuing to work along Caroura Rd, blacking out and mopping up where possible," Mr Gilchrist said.
"The fire is still in some hard to reach places, making access difficult.
"We are seeing an increase in fire behaviour just now, which is consistent with our predictions.
"There are additional aviation resources and other additional resources are being re-tasked to that area but we are not overly concerned at this point.
"We would advise the community to keep a close eye on any changes to the conditions.
He said a predicted southerly wind change was concerning them.
"It will be a long night for crews, but we are making sure there are adequate resources out there to meet the challenges that the weather might throw at us this evening," he said.
Earlier today
The RFS is not expecting the Currowan fire to pose a major threat in this region over coming days, despite conditions hotting up.
Southern Tablelands RFS zone manager, Peter Alley said the 308,000 hectare blaze, which on Wednesday was being controlled, was on Goulburn Mulwaree's southern boundary.
However, crews, including a strike team, quickly contained it on Sunday when it made a run from the Shoalhaven council area around Stewart's Crossing, some 30km from Windellama.
Under a section 44 directive, this southern section of the fire is now regarded as part of the Charleys Forest blaze to be controlled by Lake George fire zone. This is to better manage resources and funding, given its scale.
In the northern section, Currowan crossed the Shoalhaven River around Tallong last Saturday and then rushed north to devastate several Southern Highlands communities.
But Superintendent Alley said while fire intensity would generally increase with Friday's expected 39-degree temperature, only light to moderate winds were forecast.
"It's not going to be a massive blow up day like we had last Saturday," he said.
"...From our perspective, the Southern Tablelands zone is not under any threat from Currowan. It has already burnt to the Shoalhaven Gorge and crossed to the north but I don't think it will cross in the west. It is creeping into the Shoalhaven and it is more of an issue for them."
Superintendent Alley said if it did flare up at Tallong, around Caoura Road, there were plenty of RFS resources and properties were well prepared.
The Caoura Road fire is now being managed by Wollondilly Fire Control as part of the Morton blaze, which destroyed properties at Wingello, Penrose, Bundanoon and Exeter last Saturday.
The RFS flew a drone over a far section of the 24km-long Caoura Road on Monday to survey damage from Saturday's flare up. Superintendent Alley said there were no property losses detected. However The Post understands the drone was unable to survey the very far reaches where another five to six properties are located.
This outbreak flared up again on Tuesday night. Crews were immediately on scene but it fortunately turned west-northwest and did not pose a threat to property. It is nevertheless closer to Caoura Road.
Former Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle, his sister and cousin own land in the Caoura Road area that backs onto the gorge.
"We are okay at the moment," he told The Post
"The fire is currently sedentary but with the conditions the way they are, it will flare up again. What needs to be remembered is the conditions are not dissimilar to the 1965 Chatsbury fire.
"I was only five at the time but it is a memory I will never forget."
That blaze burnt from Chatsbury through Bannaby right to the coast. Mr Kettle said even if controlled, the fires could remain active in tree roots and the soil. Only a substantial amount of rain would put them out.
"If the Green Wattle Fire flares up again with north-westerly winds, it will bring it down around the Chatsbury area again and it will come across like it did in 1965," he said.
"We are all grateful for the hard work of the RFS, volunteers and other resources that are coming in to help. We need to stay vigilant. We are a long way from safety. We need to pray for rain and all look after each other."
But Superintendent Alley said while there were never any guarantees in recent conditions, he wasn't expecting this eventuality, based on forecasts.
Meantime, the Jacqua Creek fire, previously known as the Oallen Ford Road blaze, has burnt just over 3500 hectares in national park near Bungonia.
It is also now being managed by Lake George fire zone as part of the Charleys Forest outbreak, based on the premise that the two could combine. Crews have been reinforcing containment lines in calmer conditions this week.
RFS Southern Tablelands zone coordinator George Shepherd said it was still burning in national park.
"It's in very rugged and inaccessible country," he said.
"Rain has hampered work there but it has also slowed the fire down."
Aircraft has water bombed the area but poor visibility due to smoke has restricted activities. A remote area firefighting team is on scene.
Mr Shepherd expected forecast westerly winds on the weekend to increase fire activity but hoped containment lines would hold.
In related news, the 274,000ha Green Wattle fire burning in the Southern Highlands and around Wombeyan Caves, was being controlled on Wednesday.
It has destroyed seven dwellings and a shed around the Caves, the RFS said. Crews were on higher alert on Tuesday night when it once again flared up.
The blaze is also being managed by Wollondilly Fire Control.
