Canobolas Zone RFS crews dispatched to assist at West Wyalong fire

Summary

Canobolas Zone Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters have left Orange to help with containment of a major bushfire in West Wyalong.

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The fire has burned 5,522 hectares of land and it’s perimetre stretches across 50 kilometres, firefighters contained the blaze on Thursday night.

Orange RFS volunteers prepare to leave for West Wyalong: Photo: CANOBOLAS ZONE RFS

Orange RFS volunteers prepare to leave for West Wyalong: Photo: CANOBOLAS ZONE RFS

Canobolas Zone operations officer Brett Bowden said three trucks with 10 firefighters from Orange and Cowra were heading to assist.

Mr Bowden said the volunteers would relieving local firefighters, many of who were farmers.

“We’re expecting to help out with consolidation and containment of the fire,” Mr Bowden said.

“Our volunteers are only going down for the day, we expect them to return on Friday evening. The idea is to give the local firefighters some relief, they’ve been at it day and night for three days.”

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons estimated the fire had caused $500,000 of crop losses and killed 620 sheep.