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An emergency warning has been issued for an out-of-control grassfire on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands.
Key points:
- The Taralga Rd fire, north of Taralga, has been upgraded from watch and act to emergency level
- The Rural Fire Service is warning some residents it is too late to leave and they should seek shelter
- Strong winds are pushing the blaze quickly to the east and there are concerns a wind change will affect more properties
Some people are being told it is too late to leave as the Curraweela blaze, about 40 kilometres north-east of Crookwell, grows rapidly.
The now-633-hectare fire is being fanned in an easterly direction by strong winds.
About 20 properties around Taralga Road, Jerrong Road and Old Station Creek Rd to the north are being affected, and those residents are being warned to seek shelter.
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson Greg Allen warned the number of properties being affected could grow.
"That fire is moving very quickly in that area," he said.
Mr Allen said the fire was mostly burning in grassland.
"That's adding to why the fire is moving so quickly, being that grassfires can move up to three times more quickly than bushfires," he said.
Fire bombers have been brought in from Sydney to try and slow the spread of the blaze.
About 80 firefighters with 20 trucks are in the area.
"Firefighters are doing whatever they can with the support of heavy plant equipment, with large air tanker and aviation support, to control this fire as soon as possible, but the winds are incredibly strong this afternoon," Mr Allen said.
He warned people in the areas north of the fire should remain vigilant because a southerly wind change was forecast over the next 24 hours.
The Upper Lachlan Area is today experiencing extreme fire danger conditions, with a total fire ban in place across the Southern Ranges.
A watch and act alert was first issued at noon today.
Homes in the area of Craigs Road are also being affected.
About 35 fires are burning across New South Wales.