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NSW bushfires: Cool change to bring relief but add to risks for fire crews

Peter Hannam
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A cool change on Tuesday is expected to bring both relief and anxiety to the hundreds of firefighters battling blazes along eastern NSW.

As of Tuesday morning, 42 fires were burning in the state, with 13 of them uncontained, Rural Fire Service spokesman John Redman said. 

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Fires continue to burn across NSW

Crews have been working through the night to try and contain several large fires that are continuing to burn across the state. Vision: Channel Seven

Some 300 firefighters are in the field, a number that should swell during the day.

By mid-afternoon, a fire near Freemans Waterhole west of Lake Macquarie, was disrupting traffic on the Pacific Motorway.

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With Port Stephens expecting a top of 35 degrees and Kempsey 34 - two towns near the biggest blazes - the arrival of cool change later on Tuesday was forecast to ease the sweltering conditions for fire crews.

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"It could present its own problems," Mr Redman said, noting the gusty wind shift could "come in quite strong".

Sydney's temperatures should cool off earlier, with a top of 27 expected in the city and 32 in the west. Thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon and evening, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Fire conditions have eased but may flare up again later on Tuesday.
Fire conditions have eased but may flare up again later on Tuesday. Photo: Twitter/RFS

The regions rated "very high" fire danger on Tuesday stretch from the greater Sydney region to the Queensland border:

The RFS has been deployed its large aircraft to dump fire retardant to contain blazes.
The RFS has been deployed its large aircraft to dump fire retardant to contain blazes. Photo: Wolter Peeters

Overnight conditions were again relatively benign, allowing the fire crews to build containment lines on main blazes causing concern. These include the Lone Pine fire near Port Stephens and the Ravenswood Road fire near Kundabung south of Kempsey.

"At this stage there is no concern for properties," Mr Redman said, referring to the Lone Pine fire.

For Kundabung, residents are likely to see significant amounts of smoke on Tuesday "but there is not threat to the township", Mr Redman said.

Those two fires, and one still burning near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, are rated "advice", by the RFS. That signifies there is no immediate danger but residents should continue to monitor developments.

Travellers on the region's roads, such as the Bucketts Way and the Pacific Highway, should remain watchful for crews making any emergency repairs or tackling spot fires. 

Follow Peter Hannam on Twitter and Facebook.

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