Married At First Sight Australia’s Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant have shared updates on the Northern Beaches bushfire as it nears their home.
Residents of the region north of Sydney were warned to take precautions after a hazard reduction blaze broke containment lines over the weekend.
Blustery conditions had seen the fire rage out of control on Saturday before the area’s dedicated firefighters and waterbombing aircraft slowed its spread as the wind and temperature began to drop.
And both Jules, 42, and Cam, 40, took to their Instagram accounts on Saturday to reveal their reactions as the fires got perilously close to neighbourhoods in the ritzy Sydney area.
Cam shared an image of the smoke in the sky obscuring the sun and shared that it was ‘never a good sign.’
Both parents shared images of eldest son Oliver, three, helping out as they prepared for the worst.
In an Instagram Story from Jules, she showed their son spraying down the front of their Cromer home with the garden hose.
‘We are on high ember alert in the area. Ollie being a lil hero and helping daddy. Hope everyone okay,’ she wrote over the image.
MAFS couple Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant have shared updates on the Northern Beaches bushfire as it nears their home. Both pictured with sons Oliver, three, and Carter
Cam shared an image of the smoke in the sky obscuring the sun, and shared that it was not ‘a good sign’
‘Fire over Oxford Falls way. Praying for it to be under control and everyone safe,’ he added.
Later in the day, Cam shared another photo of fires burning in the distance in the evening.
‘Been a slightly uneasy day. Thank you to those who checked in. All currently okay, hopefully under control through the night, and thoughts to those even closer,’ he wrote over the ominous image.
In an Instagram Story from Jules, she showed their son spraying down the front of their Cromer home with the garden hose. ‘We are on high ember alert in the area. Ollie being a lil hero and helping daddy. Hope everyone okay,’ she wrote over the image
Firefighters worked through the night backburning along properties in the beachside Sydney region after residents were forced to urgently evacuate their homes.
More than 280 firefighters and two water-bombing aircraft had been deployed to tame the fire as residents were told to evacuate the area after the RFS issued a fire alert for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls at 2:39pm on Saturday afternoon.
The hazard reduction fire was classified as ‘out of control’ by the service and was burning in an easterly direction towards Cromer Heights.
Later in the day, Cam shared another photo of fires burning in the distance in the evening. ‘Been a slightly uneasy day,’ he wrote alongside the image
Residents who lived on Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street were told it was ‘too late to leave’ and that they should seek shelter instead.
The RFS said the fire finally began to ease about two hours later and the alert was downgraded to ‘watch and act’ by 4:43pm.
Nearby residents are being warned to wary of ember attacks as remnants of the fire travel in the air and threatens to create spot fires throughout the area.
The blaze has now been downgraded to an ‘Advice’ level after it got out of control following a routine controlled burn.
The RFS said firefighters would be conducting backburning operations behind properties in the vicinity of Oxford Falls Rd, Lady Penrhyn Dr, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place overnight.
No property loss or damage has been reported thus far but the RFS has said their work in containing the fire will continue for hours to come.