The Currowan fire on the NSW South Coast was at emergency warning level on Thursday night, as it continues to flare up in places, and road closures now stretch from Araluen to Nerriga.
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Due to a fire outbreak at Tianjara north of the main Currowan fireground, the Braidwood Rd route via Nerriga Rd to the South Coast became the most recent access to be closed on Thursday.
The Kings Highway from Braidwood to Nelligen is expected to remain shut for the "foreseeable future" because of ongoing risks from spot fires and fire-damaged trees, and the Araluen Rd is open only to local residents.
The Currowan fire had been licking toward beachside Burrill Lake and Dolphin Point where residents were told it was too late to leave. Embers were being carried across into Burrill Lake and residents were on patrol with garden hoses.
The Princes Highway was closed in both directions between Ulladulla and Lake Tabourie for more than an hour but was reopened to traffic just before 3pm.
Evacuation centres have been opened at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, the Country Club in Sanctuary Point and the Hanging Rock Sports Club in Batemans Bay.
The Currowan fire has been burning generally in a northward direction for several weeks. It escalated to an emergency level for a short time on Thursday, was later downgraded to watch and act, but put back to emergency about 9.30pm.
The arrival of a southerly change to the coast mid-afternoon brought some relief for firefighters and people in the coastal areas.
Phil Paterson from the Rural Fire Service said there had been significant spotting from the fire near Government Bend on the Kings Highway.
"There's been a number of spot fires that remain uncontained because the terrain is quite steep and so it is difficult to get ground crews in there," he said.
"We were hoping to get aircraft in but there's been a limited capacity because of poor visibility."
Spotting has also been seen to the west of the fire near Mongarlowe, Charleys Forest and Wog Wog however, no properties were under direct threat.
"I think that's the good outcome from today [Thursday]," he said. "While we've had some fire incursions and spotting, there's been no direct threat to any houses."
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The Tianjara fire has been heading generally north and west and late on Thursday evening, residents in Nerriga were being warned of falling embers as the fire advanced.
Friday's weather, although hot, will be "relatively benign" compared with much worse conditions to come on Saturday, according to the RFS.
A strike team of 16 ACT Rural Fire Service volunteers and two ACT Ambulance Service paramedics left on Thursday afternoon to assist at the Currowan fireground.
The crews will be working on containing the spread of fire in the Kings Highway, Monga, and Mongarlowe areas.
The volunteers are from Hall, Molonglo, Jerrabomberra and Rivers Brigades. ACT State Emergency Service drivers will assist with transporting of crews back to the ACT at completion of their shift.