Crews from Wangaratta group CFA made their way across the Murray River last week to assist with a fast-moving grass fire at Corowa. A NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesperson said a fire broke out on Hudson Road about 3pm on Wednesday which would span 540ha by 12pm the next day. Strong winds fanned the fire with gusts of up to 67km/h. An emergency warning was issued for residents near the fire, north-west of Corowa, to leave town. Wangaratta CFA group officer Lachie Gales said a team was planned to be available due to the extreme fire danger rating given in the NSW Riverina region on Wednesday. “It was a remarkable effort, to be able to pull 28 people away from their day-to-day jobs at four in the afternoon to travel to the other side of the Murray River,” he said. “What CFA volunteers bring to the community can’t be beat.” The blaze was contained by 9pm. The RFS spokesperson said at the peak of the blaze at 5pm on Wednesday, there were 150 firefighters and 40 trucks from various NSW and Victorian agencies on the scene, along with waterbombing aircraft.
