A fast-moving bushfire at Hillgrove Village on Sunday, 12 April, was brought under control quickly, with a coordinated response focused on protecting New England residents, their homes and local infrastructure.
The fire started while the village was relatively quiet, with many residents attending church, at home, or carrying out farming and domestic work. Smoke rising within the township was first identified by personnel at the nearby Hillgrove mine site, who alerted senior staff.
Larvotto Resources personnel mobilised rapidly, arriving as the fire intensified in gusty conditions. They encountered a distressed resident attempting to slow the fire using a watering jug filled from a household rainwater tank- a critical resource as drought conditions persist across the New England region.
Supported by contractors MACA Interquip, Stripes Earthmoving and Resolution Drilling, mine personnel deployed water trucks and firefighting units. Workers also used mine-site fire extinguishers to suppress the blaze, buying time and helping prevent it spreading further into the community.
Throughout the response, teams prioritised the safety of residents and the protection of homes and community assets. Personnel checked on elderly residents, children and pets to ensure they were safe as firefighting efforts continued.
Working in challenging conditions, the Hillgrove Gold-Antimony team held the fire at bay until NSW Rural Fire Service crews arrived to complete containment and mop-up operations.
No injuries or property damage were reported.
“Our people acted with courage, care and professionalism,” said Sonja Neame, Chief Operating Officer.
“The clear priority was protecting residents and their homes, while also making sure vulnerable community members, including children, elderly residents and pets, were safe. We are very proud of our team and grateful for the outstanding support from our contractors and the NSW Rural Fire Service.”
The incident underscores the importance of preparedness and cooperation across New England communities, particularly as bushfire risk increases. Larvotto says it continues to invest in emergency response training to support regional communities when needed.
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