After burning for more than seven months, Lake Macquarie’s Crangan Bay coal fire has been declared ‘out’.
Environment Minister Rob Stokes confirmed the news in a statement today and thanked everyone involved in the effort.
“The incredible hard work and diligence the crews put in over the many, many weeks to ensure this fire was put out safely and completely has not gone unnoticed,” he said.
The fire was the result of the Ruttleys Roadbushfire which burned through Catherine Hill Bay and Nords Wharf in October last year and ignited the coal chitter at the site of the old Wallarah Colliery.
Earth movers were brought in in March to dig out the burning coal, which was up to five metres deep.
National Parks and Wildlife Service staff will now work with the Division of Resources and Energy on the rehabilitation of the excavation and to ensure future wildfires do not reignite coal on the site.
