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Lightning strike causes four hectare fire off Northern Distributor
Published Date: 20 Jan 2019
Summary
Nine Rural Fire Service trucks were called to a four-hectare fire just off the Northern Distributor road at about 9.40pm on Sunday 20th January 2019.
View the Central Western Daily story
The fire was caused by a huge lightning storm which struck much of the Central West from about 9.30pm on Sunday and continued for about an hour.
Fire trucks just off the Mitchell Highway. Photo: MAX STAINKAMPH
The blaze, on the eastern side connection of the Northern Distributor and the Mitchell Highway, was extinguished quickly by fire crews, who were assisted by NSW Fire and Rescue and State Emergency Service responders, with the fire out at about 10.00pm.
Canaobolas RFS district officer Lachlan Allan said there had only been one fire reported by 10.30pm in the zone due to the storm, which considering there were hundreds of strikes across the hour.
The frequency of the lightning strikes during the storm's peak at about 10pm. SCREEN CAPTURE: lightningmaps.org
Mr Allan said expected rain on Sunday night and Monday morning would help firefighters should any other fires be identified, but said storms were expected later in the week.
Anyone who sees a blaze is urged to call triple zero.
The lightning storm is expected to continue into the night.
