About 60 Rural Fire Service volunteers, rangers, Defence personnel and Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters could could not actively fight the fire because it was burning in the bomb impact zone.

Strong, hot westerly winds on Thursday quickly fanned the fire believed to have been started as a result of a Defence training operation. The risk of unexploded ordnance to fire fighting personnel meant crews were only able to watch anxiously for the initial few hours.

As the southerly wind made its way up the coast the RFS raised concerns about ember attack on the residents of Currarong.

Concerns were raised by local residents about Defence bombing on Wednesday despite the prediction of high fire danger conditions.

To slow the fire’s progress toward the town, three aircraft out of Richmond Air Force Base were used to attack the fire.

For the first time this season in NSW a fire-bombing DC10 and a Hercules had been used. The DC10, can carry 45,000 litres of fire retardant.

Early on in the ordeal, RFS Shoalhaven group captain Ross Gates said he hoped the people of Currarong would have enacted their survival plans.

“The best thing they can do is prepare their property, watch and act and listen to any media reports,” he said.

“Because the fire is burning on a range facility of the Defence Force we are unable to get access to it.

“The aircraft will lay retardant to help stop the fire heading to the north and heading toward the town of Currarong.

While no RFS personnel could comment on the Defence link to the fire, Mr Gates said it was “a little frustrating not being able to gain access to the fire, often terrain and other things can limit that,” he said.