Fire sweeps past Jabiru

Smoke billows from a fire burning between Ranger Mine and Jabiru south of Arnhem Highway on Thursday 1 October.

JABIRU firefighters were yesterday combating a fire burning in hot and gusty conditions between the Ranger Mine and Jabiru.

The fire burned through an area surrounding Ranger Mine Village on Thursday morning before heading west towards the Jabiru townsite and golf course.

Crews from Jabiru Fire Station and Kakadu National Park were last night conducting strategic back-burns around the Jabiru Golf Club as the fire continued to spread in a south-westerly direction.

Acting Officer-In-Charge at Jabiru Fire Station, Leading Fire Fighter Mike Martin said fire officers responded to a call for assistance from Ranger Mine operator ERA at 12.43pm.

The Jabiru townsite is relatively well-protected from fire thanks to strategic back-burns conducted by Kakadu rangers and Jabiru Fire Station during this year’s dry season.

A fire weather forecast issued at 4pm Wednesday 30 September rated the fire danger in Jabiru as “very high”, with expected wind gusts up to 35km/h. An updated forecast at 11.41am Thursday put wind gusts at 55km/h, with an increased fire risk.

There are no reports of damage from the fire.

ERA was contacted for comment but is yet to release a statement on the incident.

A Severe Fire Danger warning is currently in place for Arnhem West.

This graphic from the Northern Australia Fire Information website on Friday morning shows how the fire spread. The red squares show hotspots from the past 12-24 hours, stars from 0-6 hours. IMAGE VIA: www.firenorth.org.au/nafi3/