Northern New South Wales Highway Shut as Myall Creek Bushfire Threatens Homes

A large stretch of the main highway servicing the New South Wales north coast was closed on November 22 as an emergency warning was issued for a huge bushfire in the area.

People in several remote districts near the Myall Creek Road fire, which has been burning northwest of Yamba for several days, were told to evacuate in the face of the blaze. The fire has burned through more than 40,000 hectares of bushland.

In this aerial footage taken near Devil’s Pulpit, a wall of orange flame from the fire can be seen on the horizon.

The Pacific Highway was closed between the major centres of Grafton and Ballina early on Friday afternoon, according to a NSW Rural Fire Service update.

There were 55 bush and grass fires burning around the state that morning, 26 of which were yet to be contained, the fire service said. Credit: NSW RFS – Northern Rivers Zone via Storyful