NSW Police and NSW Rural Fire Service investigators are investigating how the fire in bushland west of Filter Road started around 11.30am.

Shoalhaven RFS Superintendent Mark Williams said even more disturbing were revelations that other suspicious fires “sprang up” while crews were already fighting this blaze.

“While the initial blaze is being treated as suspicious, we also had reports of other fires starting in areas we wouldn’t have expected from this blaze,” Mr Williams said.

The fire was fanned by strong winds, reaching up to 60km/h, but gusts constantly changed directions from the south to north west.

“Under those wind conditions we do expect the possibility of normal spot fires and pushing embers in front of the fire, starting new fires,” Mr Williams said.

“It is something we are all trained to deal and work with.

“But on Monday we had reports coming in of suspicious activity around the area. Potential new ignitions were occurring in front and even off to the side of the fire.

“Not normal activity we would expect.”

He said all the fires and the cause of the original blaze were under investigation by NSW Police and RFS fire investigators.

Mr Williams urged anyone with any information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.

Reflecting on the blaze on Tuesday  Mr Williams admitted the area “had been extremely lucky”.

“It was great work from a lot of crews that prevented any major losses,” he said.

“We had a report of one garden shed being destroyed and damage to guttering to one house fronting Filter Road, which was pretty incredible when you consider the ferocity of the fire,” he said.

Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze with support from water-bombing helicopters and fixed winged aircraft, including the C130 Hercules, Thor, and managed to gain the upper hand by late afternoon.

Crews worked to contain the blaze through most of Monday night and come Tuesday morning had an containment line around 75 per cent of the fire’s perimeter. Machinery was used Tuesday morning to strengthen the fire’s northern edge.

RFS crews were back in the area blackening out any hot spots as were water bombing helicopters.

The fire burnt out 18 hectares.

At the height of Monday’s fire emergency at West Nowra more than 150 firefighting personnel and 50 appliances were on the ground battling the blaze.

In the air three water-bombing helicopters and fixed winged aircraft, including the impressive C130 Hercules, Thor, were used to try and quell the rapidly expanding flames.

The fire, fanned by strong westerly winds, broke out around 11.30am and tore through bushland adjoining Filter Road, threatening a number of properties.

Fire crews battled 60km/h winds which drove the fire east towards homes facing Filter Road.

An emergency situation was declared, with residents told to prepare for the fire’s impact.

“It [the fire] certainly put up a lot of smoke. Crews on the ground did an amazing job, going into property protection,” Shoalhaven RFS Superintendent Mark Williams said.

So ferocious were the winds, there were even reports of embers and burning ash at Stockland Nowra and the Princes Highway, more than four to five kilometers away from the blaze.

The fire, the fourth in the area since Friday afternoon started near the Flatrock Creek Dam.

It skirted around the Nowra Water Treatment works and threatened properties at Lydon Crescent before taking off on another run towards and eventually crossing Depot Road.

The blaze looked to be even heading further north west in the direction of Ben’s Walk and the Shoalhaven Street area where fire crews were deployed.

Superb work by the RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue crews aided by the water bombing helicopters and fixed winged aircraft managed to bring the fire under control by late in the afternoon.

Our brave firefighters have been praised for their efforts in Monday’s blaze by readers. 

Shoalhaven RFS Superintendent Mark Williams said Monday’s fire again highlighted the importance of having a Bushfire Survival Plan.

“This fire was very close to town,” he said.

“While it was pleasing to see some residents were prepared, we still had some who were not,” he said.

“We have had a little bit of fire activity early in the season and that prompted some to be ready.

“But it was quite disturbing to see some people still didn’t think they needed to have a plan.

“People even two to three streets back from the bush often think they don’t require to have any preparations. This showed you do.”

For information on a Bushfire Survival Plan got to https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-survival-plan

Monday’s fire event does not bode well for what is already shaping up to be a dry, hot summer.

Already a major fire at Jervis Bay burnt out close to 1700 hectares.

Shoalhaven RFS Superintendent Mark Williams said the dry, hot summer was going to provide a challenge for firefighters.

“Considering we are still in spring it is a worry,” he said.

“We had great deal of moisture loss over the winter period and no real great rainfall.

“Because of that loss of moisture, the sub soil moisture is gone as well and we are seeing fire activity really kicking off with some abandon.

“Monday wasn’t a hot day just 21 degrees. But the wind fanned the fire a lot.

“The dryness of the fuel is a major concern.

“We are at the point now we have to make sure we jump on any new outbreaks and prevent any new ignitions as well.”