It was about 3.30pm
as the flames sped through the treetops up from the Megalong Valley
floor towards the iconic hotel, and it looked as if history would
repeat - the grand structure had been razed by fire then rebuilt in
1922.
Instead, it became the site of one of the greatest victories enjoyed
by our tireless firefighters. Stunned guests watched from the hotel
dining hall as the fire, fanned by strong winds, swept up to reach
the rear wall of the building.
Flames engulfed a fibro cottage adjoining the hotel as fire crews
battled to keep the blaze from the main property.
Guests who had been evacuated to the dining room gazed in disbelief
as the state's now well-practised firefighting resources were brought
to bear. Helitankers and other aircraft dumped tonnes of water on
the towering flames.
Firefighters also worked to protect a petrol station adjacent
to the property amid concerns it would explode. Ellington, a nearby
historical home, was destroyed along with historical boarding quarters
at the hotel site.
The Great Western Highway was closed between Katoomba and Blackheath
as plumes of thick, black smoke engulfed the road.
The railway line was also cut as several large spot fires broke
out on the western side of the highway, with embers and ash showering
the area.
The blaze was the only bushfire to threaten lives and property
in NSW yesterday, as favourable conditions throughout Sydney and
beyond brought relief to several areas which have been hotspots
in recent days.
Most of the fires remained within containment lines but, while
residents of Berowra, Menai and Glenorie were afforded some respite,
those in the tiny hamlet of Medlow Bath faced a serious threat.
Firefighters were forced to drop their hoses and run for their
lives as a wall of flame leapt over them on a ridge behind the Hydro
Majestic.
Visibility was reduced to just 10m as crews climbed on to the
hotel's roof armed with fire extinguishers to put out spot fires.
Hotel management said guests remained calm, drinking tea and coffee,
as firefighters hosed down the front of the building.
One guest told The Daily Telegraph he was surprised by
the speed at which the flames approached the hotel.
"We were standing on the deck at midday watching the fire burning
across the valley," he said. "When we came back to the hotel at
3.15pm the fire was right on our back door."
By 5pm, the threat to the hotel was under control, but a thick
blanket of smoke remained over the area as firefighters worked to
put out remaining spot fires.
Last night, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg gave
hope to thousands of residents by announcing the current fire crisis
was almost over.
"This particular series of fires is approaching an end. Within
36 hours it will be over, I suspect," Mr Koperberg said.
Changing weather conditions and confident predictions of rain
across Sydney tomorrow were expected to provide relief.
"The bureau is very, very confident of some shower activity across
all of the fire grounds around Sydney," Mr Koperberg said.
"That's the best news we've had for weeks.
"While there will be occasional flare-ups, we've seen the worst
of this current series of fires."
However, his prediction was made on the basis that the weather
forecasts were correct.
"If we get up tomorrow morning and it's warm and windy and everything
else then all bets are off," Mr Koperberg said.
