AN out-of-control grassfire at Oaklands fanned by strong northerly winds has provided an ominous warning of what lies in store this summer.
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NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed the blaze, which destroyed a shearing shed and two vacant farm houses, started from a haystack early on Tuesday and quickly spread to more 2270 hectares before being brought under control around 4.30pm.
The fire was prevented from jumping the Federation Way north of Daysdale by the hard work of RFS ground crews and a DC-10 air tanker which was summoned from Sydney at short notice.
RFS Riverina planning officer Jonty Bruce said the plane dumped 44,000 litres of water on the blaze which is estimated to have travelled close to 15 kilometres.
“It takes about an hour to get here, but there is no doubt we were concerned about the potential of this fire,” he said.
“Crews did very well to pull it up where they did.
“In all honesty if it wasn't for that plane we could still be battling it now.
“It is one of the biggest planes we use to fight fires in Australia.
“We definitely didn't want it to cross Federation Way.”
Harvesting was suspended before lunch on a day of total fire ban.
Mr Bruce said a full assessment of the damage would be available on Wednesday.
Police blocked Federation Way at the Byrnedale Road turn-off and re-directed traffic through Rand.
Oaklands Central School was evacuated as a precaution and the school's presentation evening planned for Wednesday was postponed.
Long-time Oaklands resident George Moloney was counting the cost from the fire as he lost a shearing shed which had stood since 1967.
The fire also came within metres of the home occupied by his son Tyson.
“We got alerted to the fire at 8.55am,” Mr Moloney said.
“It burnt right up to the house.
“It has been a bugger of a day and we haven't had a fire this big around here for ages.”
In 1980, a major bushfire burnt from near Jerilderie to Savernake.
Reports of another small fire in the Daysdale township were proven to be false.