Firefighters have entered their fifth consecutive day battling a significant bushfire that has consumed more than 350 hectares within the Karuah Nature Reserve near North Arm Cove, with back-burning operations continuing through Friday to contain the blaze.
Ongoing Firefighting Operations
Fire crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks Service maintained intensive back-burning activities along the fire's northern front near Tenterfield Road on Friday. The coordinated effort focuses on establishing containment lines around the surrounding areas of Carrington and Tahlee, located at the southern extremity of the Mid North Coast region.
The firefighting campaign began on Monday, November 10, when the blaze initially ignited outside the reserve boundaries before spreading uphill into the dense natural scrub. Both ground crews and aircraft have been deployed throughout the operation, working in challenging warm, dry and windy conditions to protect properties at risk.
Community Impact and Safety Warnings
Residents in affected communities have been advised to anticipate significant smoke coverage over their properties as firefighting operations persist. A spokesperson for National Parks and Wildlife issued clear guidance for motorists: "If you are driving in the area, please drive to the conditions and take directions from firefighters. While roads in the area remain open, they may be closed without warning due to fire activity."
Authorities have flagged potential smoke impacts across the Pacific Highway, with Transport for NSW receiving regular updates to provide appropriate advisories to travellers. The interagency coordination ensures motorists receive timely information about changing conditions.
Staying Informed During the Crisis
Emergency services strongly recommend that residents in the Tahlee and Carrington areas at North Arm Cove maintain vigilance by monitoring official information channels. The following resources provide current updates:
- Hazards Near Me application
- RFS official website
- Local radio station broadcasts
- RFS Bush Fire Information Line: 1800 679 737
For current road closure information, residents should consult Live Traffic NSW. The extended firefighting effort underscores the challenging conditions facing emergency services as they work to bring the Karuah Nature Reserve blaze under complete control.
