Bushfire destroys homes and businesses on NSW South Coast
At least 70 buildings have been destroyed on the NSW Far South Coast, and the Rural Fire Service said that number could increase as firefighters continue to battle the bushfire.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said early estimates from overnight suggest 70 buildings have been lost in Tathra, but fire crews would be going through in the morning to get a clearer picture.
An estimated 70 buildings have been destroyed in a bushfire in Tathra.
Photo: Seven News"Whether that's homes or businesses, the reports we've had overnight are around 70 of those buildings [have been destroyed] which is obviously devastating for those families," he told the Today show.
Aerial footage of the town, just east of Bega, on Monday morning showed streets destroyed by fire and some homes still smoking after the blaze tore through the town.
Showing the unpredictable nature of fire, many homes have been reduced to rubble and ash while neighbouring homes appear unscathed.
Residents who evacuated to Bega would be eager to return and assess the damage, but Deputy Commissioner Rogers asked for their patience.
"There is firefighting going on with fires popping up in the township area. We need to secure that," he said.
Some homes have been completely destroyed in Tathra.
Photo: Seven NewsProperties also needed to be checked to see whether they were structurally safe or contained asbestos, the deputy commissioner said.
"We have to do this assessment to make sure they are safe. We are very conscious to get people back to their homes as quickly as we can."
The fire broke out in Tarraganda early on Sunday afternoon, before crossing the Bega River.
Fanned by strong winds and high temperatures, it burned through seven kilometres of bushland into the township and right to the coast.
At least 70 properties have been destroyed in a bushfire at Tathra.
Photo: Seven NewsThe threat was downgraded late on Sunday night after a southerly change helped ease conditions, but a great deal of damage had already been done.
Deputy Commissioner Rogers said the fire conditions were "horrendous".
"We had that perfect storm: very high temperatures, very low humidity, very dry fuel .... and very strong westerly winds. That pushed this fire so quickly," he said.
"We are extremely lucky no-one was killed."
Record March maximum temperatures were set around the south coast on Sunday, with Ulladulla hitting 38 degrees, Bellambi reaching a high of 37.5 degrees and Albion Park reaching a scorching 39.5 degrees.
While the weather had eased on Monday morning, the deputy commissioner said firefighters will be busy in the coming days.
"We've got another couple of days of trying to get containment on this fire," he said.
"Firefighters have got their work cut out over the next few days."
Deputy Commissioner Rogers told the ABC the fire was not threatening any properties on Monday morning, and all residents appeared to be safe.
"We can't be 100 per cent sure that everybody is accounted for, but what I can say is we have no reports of anyone who is missing," he said.
On Sunday afternoon smoke enveloped the town of Tathra, before the bushfire tore through.
Photo: David Porter