mmg.com.au

A large grass fire in Moama late last night came perilously close to Cobb Haven Village, prompting some residents to evacuate.

The fire burnt about 12 hectares of land along Lignum Rd and came within 50 metres of homes.

It is being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews did not instruct residents to leave, but the ferocity of the blaze saw some take the initiative.

One couple evacuated to McDonald’s for cup of coffee.

‘‘You could just see the red haze and smoke billowing,’’ the man said.

‘‘A person drove past and said ‘get out’, so we did.’’

Ten fire units brought the blaze under control by about 11.

Shortly after, shaken residents were milling on the edge of the paddock watching fire crews mop up.

Clare East had been watching bushfires on the news when she became aware of her own potentially dire situation.

‘‘It was just red and roaring,’’ she said.

‘‘I couldn’t believe my eyes. The houses here are full of fairy grass from the paddock, it goes up with a spark.’’ She stayed put, believing there could be a logjam at Cobb Haven’s exit if everyone else was trying to leave at the same time.

Asked if she was scared, she said: ‘‘I didn’t have time to be scared, I was too busy swearing.’’