Aircraft called in to extinguish grassfire on Hume

BREAKING: Yass Rural Fire Service crews have been called to attend a grassfire burning out of control on the Hume Highway near Jugiong and Harden.

Aircraft have been called in to water bomb the area and assist the several trucks on scene.

It is still too early to estimate the area damaged, Yass RFS Superintendent Peter Dyce told Scoop at 2.25pm.

It’s thought to have been caused by a motor vehicle accident.

UPDATE: The grass fire is now under control and mop-up activities are proceeding without incident, according to Superintendent Peter Dyce at the Yass Rural Fire Service.

He said the fire was brought under control at 3.45pm and that Bookham and Binalong crews were now helping the South West Zone crews from Harden with clean up operations.

“There’s been great co-operation between Harden’s South West Zone and our zone at Yass, I must say the two groups worked magnificently to suppress this fire and minimise the amount of acreage burnt,” he told Scoop.

It’s estimated the fire burnt out about 300 acres of land. There was no property damage or stock losses.

“There’s always a worry with this wind and in that sort of country.

“The northerly wind took the fire north rather than along the highway.”

The fire is believed to have ignited from a motorbike accident on the Hume Highway.

The condition of the motorbike rider is unknown at this stage although paramedics did attend the scene.

Our local crews are expected to continue mopping up until dusk.