THE large fire that ripped through forest near Nundle is believed to have destroyed up to $10 million worth of pine.
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The suspicious Goddos Road fire, in the hills near Nundle and Hanging Rock, is under investigation by police, who believe it was deliberately lit on or about October 27.
The fire burnt through more than 1300 hectares and more than half of that was pine plantation.
"We're still trying to calculate it, but in terms of value to NSW, somewhere between $5-$10 million," Forestry Corporation's Walcha district manager, Gary Miller, told the Leader.
"But it's too early to tell at the moment."
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Mr Miller said flyovers of the plantation would help to determine the full damage tally, before crews could move in on the ground.
"We believe about 600 to 800 hectares of pine was affected," he said.
"We've got to get back to normal business as soon as we can.
"We've got to salvage it within the month, and some of it will survive, but the clock is ticking."
The Forestry crews were forced to down tools when the suspicious fire broke out, and to turn to firefighting efforts in a bid to protect the plantations.
Crews work year-round harvesting the pine plantations.
"We were put out of work as soon as the fire started, and all the harvesting crews and truck drivers, effectively they have to go home and stay there until it is safe to return, and that's their livelihoods on hold," Mr Miller said.
"It is tools down for most of them but at one point we were evacuating; at one point we thought we were going to lose everything all the way down to Hanging Rock, so we moved all of our gear away."
Now the fire has been controlled and is being patrolled by crews, Forestry Corporation workers have hit the ground again.
They'll commence "salvaging the mature trees that were burnt" and ramp up efforts to get back to business.
The blaze is being investigated by Oxley police and anyone with information is urged to contact Tamworth police on 6768 2999.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
