An investigation has been launched into the cause of the devastating bushfire at South Turramurra that left a number of properties damaged and a firey with a broken arm.
Police are focusing the probe around Field of Mars Ave where the initial triple-0 call came from.
It comes as people return to their homes – many to find them covered in fire retardant.
An air tanker was brought in and dropped the red/pink fire retardant to protect a row of homes.
Shortly before 5pm officials had warned it was “too late to leave” and had instead told people to seek shelter.
However, the heroic efforts of fireys on the scene saw the bushfire brought under control within the hour.
A number of homes were damaged and one firefighter suffered a broken arm and ribs.
Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Rural Fire Service Inspector Rolfe Poole said firefighters have managed to contain it at this stage.
Speaking just before 6pm he said: “The situation is very dynamic but we are managing to contain it and we’ve dropped the warning to advice level.
“A large air tanker did an immediate drop to nearby properties in a bid to protect the streets.
“We had several fires reported and had a heavy weighted first initial response already planned so firefighters circled the area from east and west and responded.
“One of those fires managed to take hold and threatened a number of properties. There has been minor damage to properties and a firefighter has suffered injuries to an arm, which is essentially broken.
“We ask people to be vigilant and pay attention because the situation is rapidly changing at the moment.”
Among the families who returned home to find their home covered in fire retardant was the Anand family.
Mum Diksha said: “We were leaving the house at about 3.30pm to go to the post office and the bakery.”
“I saw smoke coming up over the trees across the road.
“Then I heard crackling and smelt smoke so I rushed back inside to grab documents, my passport, jewellery, cash and the kids’ electronics.
“We grabbed the dog, jumped in the car and drove out.
“When we got back two hours later this is what we saw: A pink house.”
At the height of the fire there were 15 fire trucks on site, four helicopters and a large air tanker.
Another fire in the area in nearby Marsfield is also now under control.
Yvonne Rae, who lives in South Turramurra, was at home when police knocked at her door.
“Police evacuated everyone. They came around door to door (about 4.30pm) and we were a bit worried because a couple of the ladies where I live weren’t answering their door but I think they had evacuated themselves before.
“They came banging on the door. But before that there was a huge smoke down the end of the road and I was a bit worried then because you could smell it and embers were coming.
“Thank goodness I got my guttering cleaned two weeks ago.”
Neighbour Robyn Carmichael was at work but her kids were at home at the time.
“We haven’t had it this bad. I was here in 2000 and we didn’t get evacuated. (The smoke) was thick, but we didn’t actually get evacuated. This is the first time.”
She was full of praise for the crews who worked tirelessly.
“They’re great the firemen. They don’t panic, they’re all very calm.
“We love it here but it’s very rare this happens. We take precautions, because we are in a bushfire area. I get my gutterings cleaned out regularly.”
Fire and Rescue NSW said crews were called to South Turramurra about 4.20pm on Tuesday after the out-of-control fire was reported in bushland south of Canoon Rd.
Smoke from the fires billowed above the M2 and Macquarie University.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said fire retardant has been dropped on the blaze as part of efforts to bring the fire under control.
Crews were also called to Marsfield after a blaze broke out near the Browns Waterhole Track just before 3pm.
The spokesman said seven trucks had been tasked to the area along with firefighters from the Rural Fire Service.
“The fire is well into the valley so crews have had difficulty accessing the area,” the spokesman said shortly before 5pm.
“It isn’t burning too violently at this stage but the area is boxed in by houses so the focus is to bring it under control.”
He said it was unclear how both fires started.
Bush tracks in the Lane Cove National Park remain closed as part of the “catastrophic” fire alert warning issued for Sydney.
Updates on the fire are available at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
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