A bushfire that has been burning in Pokolbin State Forest for several weeks has been contained.
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The Owendale fire - which has burned through 5531 hectares since November - was brought under control on Sunday.
Rural Fire Service volunteers, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and Forestry Corporation personnel have worked long and hard to contain the blaze, which reached emergency level on December 21, and breached its containment lines on January 4 during severe fire conditions.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Pokolbin Rural Fire Brigade deputy captain and community engagement officer Lewis Drayton said he was excited and relieved that the fire has been contained.
"A massive thank you to Forestry NSW, all local and out of area RFS crews and everyone else who has worked tirelessly to suppress and at last, contain this beast," Mr Drayton said.
"Thousands of volunteer hours have gone in to pulling this fire up and preventing it from spreading further east towards Pokolbin.
"Thank you again to everyone involved, we really appreciate your efforts."
The weekend's cooler conditions also saw the massive Gospers Mountain fire in Wollemi National Park brought under control.
It has burned through 500,000 hectares since October 26, and has merged with several adjacent blazes (including the Little L fire near Wollombi) with a combined fireground of more than a million hectares.
"Containment took longer than expected due to unfavourable weather conditions, however due to our hardworking crews, we have achieved that today," the NSW Rural Fire Service - Hawkesbury District said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
"It is important to remember not to be complacent as there are still a few months of the bush fire season to go with some bushland that still has not been burnt."
The Little L fire in Yengo National Park also remains under control, as does the Crumps Complex fire in Corrabare State Forest.
Firefighters will continue to patrol all of these areas to ensure the fires stay within containment lines.
Much-needed rain is predicted in Cessnock this week, with possible thunderstorms from Thursday through to Sunday.
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Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
