Authorities have confirmed campers who started a devastating bushfire that destroyed eight properties by charging their phones with a car battery will not be charged.
It came as the fire, which started near Nanga Brook on Saturday, was downgraded to a watch-and-act level blaze after a flare up forced authorities to briefly declare it an emergency again on Tuesday.
Firefighters managed to contain the breakout, but warned people in the area should remain vigilant with winds expected to be “variable” overnight.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson earlier on Tuesday confirmed firefighters, with aerial support, had managed to contain the fire spread and the strength.
“We are not out of the woods just yet. It’s still not under control, but things are certainly looking much better than they were a few days ago,” he said.
The blaze began after campers used a car battery to charge their phones. No charges will be laid against the campers.
Mr Dawson said “despite atrocious conditions” no lives had been lost but three homes had been burnt along with five short-stay accommodation properties.
Mr Dawson said this was thanks to the work of about 250 career and volunteer fire fighters, who were supported by the ambulance and other agencies.
“I want to thank them for the work that they’ve done over the last few days,” he said.
The Premier’s payment has been activated, but the support is only for homes and not businesses such as short-stay properties, which must rely on insurance.
Eligible homeowners can access $4000 if their house is destroyed and $2000 if it is damaged.
Mr Dawson said the payments would be available “over the next couple of days” and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services would help homeowners through the process.
“I do want to emphasise over the next few days we still have some hot weather. And so I would urge people to keep safe over Easter,” the minister said.
“This (fire) is a situation that could have been avoided and I would urge people not to be silly. One silly mistake can lead to people losing their lives.”
Mr Dawson said dry conditions would persist and urged the public to make a bushfire plan.
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm said firefighters expected to make “considerable process” through the rest of Tuesday.
“Crews will take advantage of this to consolidate containment lines. The fire is now 100 per cent tracked,” he said.
Mr Klemm said it had burnt 3150ha and firefighters had been limited by difficult terrain.
“The tracking of the fires that occurred both with machinery but also with hand tools,” he said.
“Firefighters have been out there with rakes and shovels because of the steep terrain.”
Mr Klemm said they also faced hazards such as a tree that fell on a light tanker.
Other than a volunteer who tripped and hurt their wrist, firefighters have not been injured.
Aerial support has dropped 1.7 million litres of water and retardant on the fire and have undertaken 95 hours of flying.
An evacuation centre in Murray had been established by the Department of Communities but is shut as no one was staying in it.
Mr Klemm said he expected DFES to start withdrawing some resources on Tuesday night.