Felling dangerous trees is necessary to prevent the spread of fire past containment lines, Machinery: Darlington Point Excavations and Transport. Operator: Chris Camm
Fire crews battle suspicious blaze during fishing competition
As the Darlington Point Riverina Classic Fishing Competition brought a vibrant surge of tourists and locals to the banks of the Murrumbidgee, a fiery scene was unfolding just a stone's throw from the festivities on Saturday.
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The alarm was raised early on Saturday afternoon when smoke began billowing from the thick scrub behind the Darlington Point Sports Club precinct and the adjacent cemetery.
The timing could not have been more precarious with the town at high capacity for the fishing classic.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) responded with a heavy presence, deploying multiple appliances.
As unfavourable winds threatened to push the flames closer to the town's edge, local business Darlington Point Excavation and Transport mobilised heavy machinery to bolster containment lines, despite already being heavily involved in the adjacent fishing competition and with little manpower to spare.
The bushfire’s location and burn path was extremely precarious, being just 450 metres from homes and businesses.
Poor conditions and extreme danger to the township meant time was of the essence to protect the town, resulting in Darlington Point Excavation and Transport’s emergency decision to unload heavy machinery on Carrington St, directly across from the Darlington Point Sports Club, allowing heavy machinery to be tracked into the site of the blaze in record time.
Remarkably, while fire crews and machine operators worked hard to bring the fire under control, much of the town remained blissfully unaware of the proximity of the danger.
The arduous effort lasted well into the night until a late weather change delivered a much-needed downpour allowing exhausted fire crews to gain control. The fire was contained at around midnight.
Authorities have deemed the fire suspicious, leaving the community wondering who would risk the safety of the town during one of its biggest weekend events.
The Riverina Classic Fishing Competition continued without crisis, but the real winners of the weekend are undoubtedly the dedicated teams who ensured Darlington Point was still standing to host it.
