Gunnedah firefighters deployed down south to battle bushfires

Four members of Fire and Rescue Gunnedah have been fighting fires in the Nowra area, and have been warned they should pack the truck light on Saturday in the event of an evacuation.

Firefighter Andrew Johns spoke to the Namoi Valley Independent while travelling to the makeshift fire control centre at a Nowra rugby park on Thursday, and said evacuated locals would be transported on the back of the fire truck if need be.

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"We're expecting Saturday to be a bad day ... 43 degrees and winds to pick up again, which is worse than New Year's Eve so we're steeling ourselves for that," he said.

"We've been told to make sure the backs of our trucks are also clear, so not having much in terms of gear in case they have to evacuate.

"I was watching news this morning and things are pretty grim. Whole areas are closed where people can't get out and our appliances are designed to go in there so we can help evacuate if required."

The crew were deployed to Jindabyne on Thursday morning to continue their efforts there.

Mr Johns said the Gunnedah crew, consisting of himself, Andrew George, Monica Bentham and Tammey McAllan, were protecting the small town of Basin View on Wednesday.

"We spent yesterday at Basin View where we protected property and there was a fire front. As conditions eased we put in some back burning to mitigate the risk of the community of Basin View," Mr Johns said.

Both Gunnedah and Basin View residents took to Facebook to thank the firies for their hard work, with some saying they had dropped off food and water for them at the local fire station.

Mr Johns said residents on the fire ground had thanked them in person, too.

"It's been amazing, there's been lots of support and people offering us water and cups of coffee and all sort so things," he said.

"Everybody's really keen to help out and do their bit to help this part of NSW through the crisis. It's us helping return the favour after other areas have helped us."

The crew is part of Strike Team Victor, which also includes firies from Tamworth, Narrabri and Armidale.