Fires threatening towns in the snowy mountains continue to burn at emergency levels on Saturday evening, as three fires have started to merge near Tumbarumba.
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The NSW Rural Fire Service has warned of very dangerous and erratic fire conditions as the Dunns Road, East Ournie Creek and Green Valley, Talmalmo fires merge.
All three fires continue to burn out of control and people in the path of the fire have been told to take shelter as it is too late to leave.
The Doubtful Gap Trail fire is threatening the Snowy Plains, Eucumbene Cove, Braemar Bay and surrounding areas.
Twelve fires are burning at emergency warning levels in NSW as communities face a day of extreme fire risks from searing temperatures and strong winds.
The Dunns Road blaze is threatening Batlow and it is too late to leave.
It is also too late to leave the area of Talbingo.
It is burning in the Westerbrook Road, Ellerslie/Tarcutta area and is currently more than 140,000 hectares in size, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Doubtful Gap Trail fire is burning in the Snowy Plain area and is more than 2000 hectares.
A fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the fire. The RFS issued a statement at 4.20pm to say it was a very dangerous situation.
It is spreading quickly and it is now too late to leave Snowy Plains, Eucumbene Cove, Braemar Bay and surrounding areas.
Multiple fires are also burning to the north of Adaminaby in the Bugtown area, more than 5000 hectares in size and out of control.
It was upgraded to an emergency warning level just before 3pm.
A gusty southerly change is due later this afternoon which will push the fire in a more northerly direction. There is also a chance of thunderstorms.
The Snowy Mountains Highway is closed between Tumut and Talbingo.
Batlow Road is closed between Snowy Mountains Highway and Kent Street.
Hospitals in Batlow, Pambula and Tumut have been evacuated.
The fires burning in southern NSW do not pose an immediate threat to the ACT.
The RFS issued an emergency alert late Friday, warning any remaining residents of Batlow that "it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as fire approaches".
Holidaymakers were earlier told to evacuate areas including Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Berridale, Delegate, Providence Portal, Anglers Reach and Old Adaminaby.
While there were no fires burning in the ACT as of 7pm on Saturday, the territory remains in a state of alert.
ACT politics and health reporter Contact me with tips, story ideas, or just to have a chat, at daniella.white@canberratimes.com.au
ACT politics and health reporter Contact me with tips, story ideas, or just to have a chat, at daniella.white@canberratimes.com.au
