A new bushfire which began on Monday afternoon is now threatening residents in Tinderry, Calabash, Jerangle and Anembo to the east of the Monaro Highway.
Residents in Calabash Road, Tinderry Road, Egans Road and Naylers Lane have been warned to seek shelter.
The fire has been downgraded to advice level as of 7am on Tuesday, but remains out of control.
A number of spot fires have started to the east of Colinton and west of the Strike a Light Nature Reserve as a result of the Orroral Valley bushfire in the ACT.
The New South Wales RFS have warned the fire is spreading in an easterly and north-easterly direction under strong south-westerly winds.
The area between the Clear Range fire and the new Calabash fire has now become a hotbed of fire-spotting activity.
People in the area have been warned to be alert for embers and spot fires starting new fires ahead of the main fire front.
By 8pm on Monday, the Calabash fire had grown to 3500 hectares, more than four times the size it had been earlier in the evening.
EMERGENCY WARNING - Calabash (Snowy Monaro LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 3, 2020
The fire is spreading E & NE direction under strong SW winds.
People in the Tinderry, Calabash areas including Calabash Rd, Tinderry Rd, Egans Rd and Naylers Lane, should seek shelter as fire approaches. #nswrfs#nswfirespic.twitter.com/3vhugKthBc
A spokesmen for the NSW RFS said that the heightened wind conditions of Monday afternoon had caused difficulty for the firefighting teams, which included volunteers out of Queanbeyan.
Visibility in the area was limited, which had restricted aerial firefighting.
He said weather conditions were expected to slowly moderate overnight and hopefully come under the influence of a more easterly and south-easterly wind pattern.
Although the Monaro Highway between Canberra and Cooma remains open, motorists are warned that areas of smoke may be encountered when using the highway.
Police are patrolling the highway and if conditions deteriorate, the highway may be closed at short notice.
Roads closed in the area include:
- Naas Road and Smiths Road at intersection of Naas Road and Smiths Road;
- Boboyan Road at the ACT/NSW border;
- Cotter Road at Brindabella Road;
- Point Hut Road at Jim Pike Ave;
- Tharwa Drive at the Knoke Ave roundabout; and
- Angle Crossing at the Monaro Highway.
The Orroral Valley fire in the ACT and the Clear Range fire near Bredbo also remain at advice level.
