UPDATE: Thursday 12.30pm
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The Burley Griffin Way has reopened to traffic after being closed since about 7pm last night due to the grass fire.
Firefighters continue to work on the fire which continues to burn near Stockinbingal.
According to the Rural Fire Service, the fire is currently 5200 hectares in size and is being controlled.
At this stage there are no reports of homes being lost however a review of assets that have been damaged - including farm sheds, crop loss and fencing - will be assessed today.
Close to 50 firefighters remain in the area and will continue to work to construct containment lines to help bring the fire under control.
We are seeing rain forming on the radar to the west of Stockinbingal. If you're there let us know if you are getting rain and how much?
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 4, 2013
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@NSWRFS we're 40km SSW and it's coming down pretty hard. Hope the fireground receives as much as we do!
— Will Barton (@willb_photos) December 4, 2013
WEDNESDAY
See how the fire unfolded.
8.30pm
We've just been told to leave - anyone who doesn't need to be in #Stockinbingal told to go @DailyAdvertiser
— Andrew Pearson (@andrewrpearson) December 4, 2013
The RFS reports the fire has now passed by Stockinbingal, burning to the east and west of the township.
There have been no reports of property loss at this time.
Conditions are starting to ease and there are reports of showers now falling on the fireground.
Almost 200 firefighters, assisted by aircraft, remain in the area and are working to contain the fire.
The Burley Griffin Way to the west of Stockinbingal remains closed to all traffic.
7.42pm
The RFS is now reporting that the Smiths Lane fire has reached Stockinbingal.
7.19pm
The Daily Advertiser journalist Andrew Pearson reports he has been asked to leave as the fire front approaches Stockinbingal.
7.14pm
The grass fire that started burning near Smiths Lane, Spirngdale was been downgraded to the emergency warning level, but the blaze is still out of control.
The fire is around 3200 hectares in size and a southerly change is pushing the fire in a northerly direction towards the township of Stockinbingal.
Whilst the township is not currently under threat the fire may reach Stockinbingal by 7:30pm.
An emergency alert text message is being sent to residents in the Stockinbingal area.
NSW RFS crews working to protect homes in the area and are being further assisted by 6 waterbombing aircraft.
6.58pm
An update from the scene from reporter Andrew Pearson.
South west slopes RFS zone captain Keith Butt said the fire is out of control.
"Everybody's on fire protection mode trying to do what they can," he said.
"It's a difficult fire ... (it has) spotted large distances ahead.
"There are a lot of different fire fronts.
At the Stockinbingal's StockUp store, the owners stayed put, even as word circulated the fire had jumped the Burley Griffin Way.
One, who wished to remain anonymous, said a number of concerned residents had left their properties, many out fighting the fire.
"We're not concerned, we've got some good guys out there," she said.
"We're helping out where we can with whatever's needed ... We'll be here until the whole thing is under control.
Landholder Val Young, who lives on the Burley Griffin Way just outside the town was one of many to flee their property.
Despite not knowing if her home was still standing, she was hard at work in the Stockinbingal RFS shed preparing food for the firefighters.
"I know (the fire's) in the property," Mrs Young said.
"What's gotta be done, gotta be done,"
She said the police had asked her if she was going to evacuate.
"Once it came over the hill we wouldn't have had any hope," she said.
6.12pm
RFS back burning along Burley Griffin Way near #Stockinbingal in a bid to halt fire. Road closed in both directions pic.twitter.com/K6EmTBAxme
— Andrew Pearson (@andrewrpearson) December 4, 2013
The grass fire burning in Smiths Lane, Springdale continues to burn out of control approximately 10km south west of Stockinbingal.
It is believed the fire has burnt around 1600 hectares.
The RFS says the fire is burning in very high fire danger conditions and is currently burning near rural properties.
Six waterboming aircraft are assisting crews that are protecting home sin the area.
A southerly change is expected to push the fire in a northerly direction and blow smoke towards Stockinbingal.
The fire remains at a watch and act status and the RFS is advising for people in the affected area to follow their Bush Fire Survival Plan.
If you do not have a Bush Fire Survival Plan, know what you will do if the fire threatens your property.
Traffic diversions are in place including on the Burley Griffin Way which has been closed.
4.27pm:
A THIRD aircraft has been deployed and two extra fire crews to the grassfire burning at Springdale near Temora.
A NSWRFS spokesman said crews were expecting an easterly wind change at 6pm, which would push the fire towards Stockinbingal.
The spokesman said the weather change could also bring a much-needed rain shower.
Currently, no evacuation centres have been set up.
NSWRFS said only localised road closures at present.
3.46pm: EIGHTEEN NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) crews are currently battling a fast-moving grassfire that has already burnt 100 hectares of land at Springdale near Temora.
A second fire is burning 15 kilometres east of Cootamundra, moving towards Old Cootamundra Road.
Watch and Act: Two waterbombing aircraft have been sent to the Smiths Lane fire at Springdale (Temora). The fire has burnt out 100 hectares.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 4, 2013
NSWRFS crews are being assisted by two water-bombing aircraft in Springdale.
The blaze is on Smiths Lane, several properties are under threat, and spot fires being ignited by ambers are being reported.
A spokesman for the NSWRFS said currently residents are being told to “watch and act” which includes being vigilant and staying up to date with current information.
Conditions are being described as “hot and dry” with harvesting stopped at Cootamundra, Young and Boorowa and surrounding towns.
In Cootamundra, a spokesman for the NSWRFS said firefighters were “getting the upper hand” but more than 50 hectares of land had already been burnt, adding 10 NSWRFS trucks and 35 firefighters were on the ground.
“They’ve been battling strong winds,” the NSWRFS spokesman said.
3.26pm: Water-bombing aircraft is now on the way to attack the Springdale fire, which is burning along Smiths Lane.
On the other side of Cootamundra, firefighters are also tackling a smaller blaze at The Willows.
Around 50 hectares has burned 15 kilometres east of Cootamundra in that fire.
3.20pm: The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued a watch and act alert for a grass fire at Springdale, between Temora and Cootamundra.
The fire is listed as out of control on the NSW RFS website, which also says at least 100 hectares has burned.