Hero firefighters save NSW from catastrophe

8.25PM UPDATE:

A high-risk gamble by firefighters has paid off, with NSW escaping from one of its most threatening bushfire days on record mostly unscathed, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

The hot, dry conditions that were forecast did eventuate, and strong gusty winds blew across fire grounds throughout the afternoon but by 6pm there had been no reports of any homes being destroyed by large, threatening fires that burnt on Wednesday in the Blue Mountains and Hunter regions.

The respite came as the RFS confirmed reports that the State Mine fire, which began near Lithgow on Wednesday last week, was caused by explosive devices on a Defence range.

The Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, praised the efforts of firefighters who had been preparing for the nightmare conditions since they were forecast on the weekend. Crews had undertaken "aggressive and high-risk strategies" to keep homes and communities safe, he said.

"Those strategies fortunately have paid off," Mr Fitzsimmons said.

8PM UPDATE:

Newcastle Herald journalist Matt Carr took this picture earlier, of the smoke seen over Newcastle.

7.50PM UPDATE:

The NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has commented on the RFS' findings that the State Mine Fire was caused by live ordnance exercises on the Marangaroo Army Range, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

‘‘I want to ensure that this doesn’t detract from the efforts that defence have made over the past week in assisting the state’s emergency services battle these fires,’’ he told the Seven Network.

In a statement, the RFS has also pointed out fire bans were not yet in place on Wednesday.

7.35PM UPDATE:

A full list of school closures tomorrow, is available here:

7.05PM UPDATE:

The RFS reports the Pacific Highway is open in both directions at Raymond Terrace. 

6.45PM UPDATE:

6.00PM UPDATE:

The NSW says the Stockrington Road fire has been regraded to Watch and Act. It is uncontained and residents are advised to remain vigilant.

Almost all of the children at the Kindy Patch childcare centre at Medowie have been picked up by their parents.

Police have confirmed the fire is still being contained but there is the threat of an ember attack on nearby homes.

At this point there is no active fire front.

Meanwhile:

5.30PM UPDATE:

Latest update from the NSW RFS:

Police have confirmed there are 20 children inside the Kindy Patch childcare centre in Medowie, the Maitland Mercury reports. The centre is not under direct threat from fire at this stage. Police said it was safer to keep the children inside the centre instead of allowing parents to pick up the children.

5.15PM UPDATE:

Fairfax Media photographer Nick Moir grabbed this photo of the bushfires giving little chance of respite, as they threaten to break out across Mountain Lagoon Road near Bilpin.

4:50PM UPDATE:

Amazing video from our friends at The Sydney Morning Herald, who captured a flare-up at the Mount Victoria fire.

4:35PM UPDATE:

Power is also out near the Gateshead fire in the Hunter region.

The RFS has also posted an aerial view of the Gateshead blaze.

4:25PM UPDATE:

Fairfax Media photographer Andrew Meares grabbed this shot of an air crane in action over Grose Road, Springwood a little while ago.

NSW Police have just issued a warning to people who live in the Blue Mountains and Bells Line of Road not to return to their homes too early, warning conditions are still dangerous.

"Residents should consider delaying their travel or make alternative arrangements to stay with family or friends."

"If you do not have any other alternative than to return home you are advised to attend the Information and Assistance Centre at either the Penrith Panthers or Lithgow Workers Club," read a statement.

"Residents are urged to contact relatives and friends about their plans for alternative overnight accommodation to allay any concerns."

4:20PM UPDATE:

The RFS have posted this video of choppers water bombing the Springwood fire.

The Gateshead fire has crossed Redhead Road and is moving in an easterly direction between Dudley and Redhead, through the Awabakal Nature Reserve towards the coast.

4:10PM UPDATE:

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is giving an update on the fire situation. Watch live here.

Meanwhile, the Maitland Mercury reports that a grassfire at Heatherbrae, which already suffered through a devastating fire last week, could impact on homes.

The fire, on the Pacific Highway, could impact on homes along Benjamin Lee Drive.

4PM UPDATE:

Residents in Dudley, which is under threat from the Gateshead fire, have just lost power, Fairfax Regional Media's own Eve Nesmith reports.

3:50PM UPDATE:

Newcastle Herald photographer Peter Stoop has filed this photo of a Minmi resident hosing down his property as the fire front approaches.

Reporter Matt Carr has spoken to residents who are dreading the arrival of the front.

"Firefighters are based at Minmi Sportsground amid concerns the Stockrington fire may cross the M1 (formerly F3), Matt Carr from The Newcastle Herald reports.

About seven fire crews remain on scene in Minmi, with several familiarizing themselves with the suburb in case it comes under direct threat.  Roughly six crews left the area about 3pm to join firefighters battling a blaze near Redhead.

Lifelong Minmi resident Cheryl Peterson, whose house stands opposite the football ground where firefighters gathered on Wednesday afternoon, said conditions were among the worst she had seen in the bush-flanked suburb.

"I've had goosebumps since I heard," she said. "1994 was the last one but it wasn't this bad."

Neighbour Terry Saville, 62, said bushland between the town and the M1 Freeway had grown thicker in the 19 years since the last fire.

"It's been a long time," Mr Saville said."I've been dreading it really."

NSW Rural Fire Service group officer Stuart Farleigh said crews were on both sides of the M1 to stop flames crossing the highway."

3:45PM UPDATE:

The RFS have just posted this aerial shot of the Gateshead fire in the Hunter region.

Authorities have also advised that the Stockrington fire has not yet crossed the M1 Motorway, leaving that path open for residents wanting to leave Minmi.

Residents of the Port Stephens area shouldn't worry about smoke in the area - the Hank Street blaze, which damaged property last week, is still contained.

3:30PM UPDATE:

Newcastle Herald reporter Matt Carr is near the fire front at Minmi in the NSW Hunter, and says residents are packing their cars to leave.

"Quite a few are talking about the 1994 fires, which came through here. A large number of them are saying that even though those flames - which were licking at back doors - weren't in conditions this severe,'' he said. 

3:10PM UPDATE:

A resident's view of the Gateshead fire a short time ago.

3:05PM UPDATE:

The Gateshead fire has crossed Oakdale Road and is burning in a south-easterly direction.

The Maitland Mercury reports that Dudley Public School has just been evacuated as the fire approaches.

And from the Blue Mountains:

3PM UPDATE:

The Rural Fire Service website is starting to show the strain a little this afternoon - Google is running a mirror of the latest warnings and updates, which you can access here or at the top of this page.

2:50PM UPDATE:

The state's third Emergency warning has just been issued for the fire, at Redhead, being referred to as the Gateshead fire, with residents in Redhead and Dudley advised to seek shelter immediately.

2:45PM UPDATE:

More bushfire danger in the Hunter region, the Newcastle Herald reports, with a fire threatening homes at Redhead, about 20 minutes south of Newcastle.

2:30PM UPDATE:

This shot just filed by Fairfax Media photographer Nick Moir, as fires threaten to break containment lines near the village of Bilpin in the Blue Mountains.

The volatile situation the winds are causing this afternoon was evident in NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons 2pm briefing. When his briefing began just one emergency alert was in place, for the fire at Minmi just west of Newcastle but before he finished Springwood, in the Blue Mountains, was also at emergency level. The concern of the Springwood fire is an ember attack brought on by the winds.

There are reports from Springwood residents that the flames are now just 200 metres behind homes in Chapman Parade, which came under attack from this fire last week.

Winds of up to 100km/h are expected in the Greater Sydney area this afternoon and further emergency warnings are expected. Four other fires continue to burn under the second highest alert level of 'watch and act'.

They are the Mount York fire, burning near the township of Blackheath, also in the Blue Mountains, the State Mine fire burning near Bilpin and the Southern Highlands fire burning around Bargo and Balmoral village.

Sarah Whyte reports from RFS Headquarters that as of 2:25pm there are 69 fires burning across the , 29 of which are uncontained. There are more than 1,300 firefighters out at the moment attached to 367 vehicles.

2:20PM UPDATE:

The Maitland Mercury reports a grass fire near McMullins Road at East Branxton is under control.

Firefighters are still on scene extinguishing the fire, but it is no longer considered an emergency. 

There are another two fires burning near Mellong on Putty Road.

Motorists travelling along the Putty Road should take care.

The fire is burning in the vicinity of Tinda Creek.

2:15PM UPDATE:

The Springwood blaze, which destroyed more than 200 homes last week, has been upgraded to an Emergency warning as winds pick up and temperatures rise in the Blue Mountains.

There are reports the area is now under ember attack.

The fire had been at Watch and Act.

2:10PM UPDATE:

The latest briefing from the RFS is live now - watch here.

2PM UPDATE:

NOW AND THEN: Hover your mouse over the image to see it change.

What a difference a year makes. This time last year a thick blanket of snow covered the bush off Bettington Road at Blackheath. The street is now filled with charred trees and smouldering bush as far as the eye can see.

Fairfax Media's Emma Partridge has more.

1:45PM UPDATE:

Man's best friends are also doing what they can to get through the fire crisis. Here's a few of them at an evacuation centre in Penrith, west of Sydney and not far from the Blue Mountains.

1:40PM UPDATE:

The closure of the M1 Motorway has now been extended as firefighters battle to control a blaze nearby.

1:25PM UPDATE:

The RFS have just uploaded this video of the Stockrington fire, which remains at an Emergency warning level.

1:20PM UPDATE:

The M1 Motorway is now closed by smoke in both directions near Minmi.

The Maitland Mercury is also reporting that homes are under threat from a fire at East Branxton, also in the Hunter region.

1:10PM UPDATE:

The Stockrington fire has now closed all northbound lanes of the M1 Motorway, with traffic being diverted via the Newcastle Link Road.

Also some bad news from the Blue Mountains, with at least one fire now beginning to test containment lines.

And an update on fires on the NSW South Coast from the Milton-Ulladulla times:

*Two fires are being fanned by westerly winds of about 100km/h.

*Aerial bombardment of the fire has been suspended because the strong winds have made it too dangerous to fly.

*A further fire has started just south of the Kings Highway near the Corn Trail fire trail, but it is posing no threat to assets.

1PM UPDATE:

12:30PM UPDATE:

The RFS have also released an updated map of the Balmoral fire in the Southern Highlands.

12:20PM UPDATE:

An emergency warning has just been issued for the Stockrington fire at Minmi.

An alert message is being sent to phones in the area, and residents are warned to take shelter.

Crews are working around homes in Stockrington Rd, Dog Hole Rd and Seahampton Road.

The fire is west of the M1 Motorway, and may threaten that road north of the Newcastle Link Road Interchange.

12:05PM UPDATE:

A new Watch and Act warning has been issued for a fire at Minmi, north of Newcastle.

The fire is burning on Stockrington Road and residents in the area have been told to prepare for the impact of fire.

The Rural Fire Service is providing an update at the moment - watch here.

12PM UPDATE:

As conditions worsen, Western Advocate journalist Louise Eddy speaks from experience when she writes that life should always be the first priority when it comes to bushfires.

"In the past 25 years I have lost one home in West Bathurst to fire, and another has been closely threatened by bushfire. 

The loss of my home taught me that as heartbreaking as it is to lose everything in a fire, in the end if you still have your life, the rest is just stuff. The close call gave me the opportunity to put that philosophy into practice and evacuate instead of staying to defend. 

...What has alarmed me over the past couple of days, however, is the number of people in the mountains who are refusing to evacuate their homes when told to do so, despite the risk to their lives and the lives of the firefighters and police who will ultimately be called on to rescue them. 

I want to tell them that not one of the things they are trying so hard to hold onto is worth dying for." 

The full piece is well worth a read here.

11:30AM UPDATE:

Firefighters are battling a new blaze 18km north west of Nelligen on the NSW South Coast.

The Batemans Bay Post reports the fire was started by a lightning strike and is less than a hectare in size.

No properties under threat, but the fire could impact the Kings Highway.

11:20AM UPDATE:

Key points from the latest RFS briefing:

* No breakouts or breaches of containment lines at fires at this stage. 

* We are now entering hottest and driest time of day. 

* Winds are picking up. Some helicopter water bombing has been suspended due to high winds. 

* A small fire on the M1 near Cooranbong has been contained, all lanes open. 

* Conditions could change very quickly this afternoon. Stay up to date.

11:05AM UPDATE:

The RFS is about to hold an update on the worsening fire situation. Click here to watch live.

11AM UPDATE:

Wind gusts of between 80 and 90km an hour have started picking up in the Blue Mountains, meaning water bombing efforts will have to forfeited, RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd said.

Elsewhere, fire activity is starting to pick up as wind speeds increase and temperatures rise.

10:50AM UPDATE:

10:30AM UPDATE:

The largest contingent of firefighters in Blue Mountains history is on stand by for what has been forecast to be a disastrous day for bushfire activity, Fairfax Media's Emma Partridge reports. 

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Alex Smith spent Wednesday morning assessing the situation from Blackheath.

“The wind direction is paramount at the moment, so that will determine where the fire is going to track and how difficult it’s going to be to fight,” Superintendent Smith said.

Despite a long line of fire trucks which currently flanked each side of the Great Western Highway, he said more were on their way from Sydney.

“There are the largest deployment of fire brigade and RFS resources in the [Blue] Mountains in history,” he said.

At 10am a number of weary-eyed firefighters were waiting to be replaced at Blackheath fire station.

“We have crews replacing them this morning because of the increase risk today. The wind as you can see has picked up a bit and that will be a bit of a problem for us today.”

Superintendent Smith, who is the commander of the metropolitan west one, said everything depended on the wind.

“If the wind changes to the west, that may force the fire into the Grose Valley and then can impact on other parts of the Blue Mountains. Areas like Katoomba, Springwood, Falconbridge. They can all be impacted in future.”

But the wind could swing the other way.

“We are also concerned we don’t want it to go across to the other side of the Blue Mountains, to the other side of the highway into to Megalong Valley.

-------------

Near the small village of Bilpin, resident John Keeble has told The Sydney Morning Herald winds are picking up in his area, with gusts reaching 55.1 kml/h.

"There's still no sign whatsoever of smoke to the north and north west of here. Wind is a bastard though. We call it the 'August winds', but they are a bit late this year.

"The shed is shaking in the wind right now."

10AM UPDATE:

Former federal Labor candidate Susan Templeman has described returning to her burnt-out home in Winmallee as "like walking through a scene from Kosovo being bombed out".

Talking to the Blue Mountains Gazette, Ms Templeman said her teenage son could save only a few items, photos and the family cat Sass before fire tore through the area last Thursday.

“People in the street were looking out for each other. The guy across the road doorknocked the street with a mate because no-one got evacuation warnings. My first text came through at 4.55pm — my house was gone by then. It just happened so fast,” she said.

Read the full story here.

9:50AM UPDATE:

While much of the focus has been on protecting human lives, those in and around fire affected areas are being reminded to keep an eye out for injured wildlife.

9:30AM UPDATE:

The Western Advocate have just uploaded great video of a convoy of fire vehicles heading to Sydney via Mount Panorama, which hosted the Bathurst 1000 less than a fortnight ago.

More than 90 firefighters and 21 trucks make up the Region West Strike Team. Members of the strike team have travelled from a wide area that includes Dubbo, Orange, Leeton, Hay and the Upper Hunter.

9:10AM UPDATE:

The RFS are providing an update on the fire situation. You can watch live here.

9AM UPDATE:

This shot from Fairfax Media photographer Andrew Meares gives some idea of the resources being thrown at the Blue Mountains fires today. 

Temperatures are rising fast around the state - it's already 26.4 at Richmond and 25.4 at Penrith. Parts of the Hunter have topped 27 degrees.

Meanwhile, Fairfax's FarmOnline editor Katie McRobert has provided a close-up view of the bushfire emergency from her home near Springwood in the Blue Mountains.

"Ten minutes ago the cicadas were deafening. Their silence now feels ominous, a feeling exacerbated by the cause of the sudden quietus: the thick blanket of smoke which has drifted into the valley behind our home.

We have been flat out on the phone, on Facebook, on email and text, reassuring everyone that we’re out of harm’s way, but the truth is we are as safe as those in Winmalee were until the unexpected fire, sparked by an arcing wire, roared up the bush gully to consume their homes.

The fireys have been working like crazy to take food away from the monsters around us, but the rain must be making that harder for them. The ground is so dry the water is slipping off, and the air tomorrow will be so hot – what little moisture stays will be sucked away by mid-morning.

I should close the blinds, but instead I turn to face the window: smiling when squalls of raindrops batter the glass, flinching each time the sky lights up.

Frogs start to sing, and then the cicadas. Welcome back."

Read the full piece here.

8:30AM UPDATE:

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has just paid tribute to his firefighters via a Facebook post.

"As you would no doubt be aware, NSW has been experiencing a difficult, dangerous and destructive start to the fire season over recent weeks - one in which homes, infrastructure and life has already been lost. Today we have areas of NSW facing very serious fire threat conditions, particularly where fires continue to burn uncontained.

... thank you to every single person who has played a role and who will continue to play an important role. We must recognise that for so many of our own, it has been really tough going and a very emotional experience. I am sure you would join with me in offering our thoughts, prayers and support for those who have worked to save as much as they could and of course, for those in our community who have lost so much."

You can read the full post here.

8AM UPDATE: 

As the wait for predicted horror conditions continue, some residents are getting ready to leave the danger zone.

And while the focus for many is on the Blue Mountains today, fire crews are also battling to control blazes elsewhere in the state. On the Far South Coast, RFS, Forestry Corporation and Ambulance crews headed out this morning to patrol backburns at the Belowra and the Buckyjumba fire.

7:40AM UPDATE:

As the day begins to warm up, fire crews from around regional Australia will be on the frontline supporting local crews.

NSW Firies from Tamworth, Dubbo, Bathurst, Batemans Bay and Mildura will be joined by interstate crews from Bendigo, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.

7:15AM UPDATE:

If you can't get near a TV, the latest bushfire press conference from the RFS is being livestreamed.

7AM UPDATE:

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has said many areas of the Blue Mountains received less than two millimetres of rain overnight, dashing hopes that rain would assist firefighters in containing out-of-control blazes.

RFS spokesman Andrew Luke told AAP slippery conditions actually hampered firefighting efforts..

"We’ve had rain only as little as two to three millimetres received on the firegrounds, and that’s hampered our efforts to backburn."

"It’s also meant we’ve had to remove crews from fire trails because of slippery conditions and to make sure we’re not damaging those fire trails."

"What otherwise would have been good news has actually hampered us overnight."

EARLIER

Weather worse than the extremes already predicted, combined with large bushfires burning out of control, and the real potential for others to spark up, have prompted a very grim warning.

''This will be as bad as it gets,'' Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. ''On days like [this], there's a very real potential for more loss of homes and life.''

The RFS had warned since the weekend about the potential devastation Wednesday's weather could cause but the revised forecast on Tuesday was even more worrying, Mr Fitzsimmons said.

VIDEO: There's is real potential for more homes and lives lost on Wednesday, says the NSW Rural Fire Commissioner.

Wednesday would be hotter, drier and windier than the dire predictions previously forecast, posing a grave challenge to one of the largest firefighting contingents assembled in NSW history. They would have to battle an active 1500-kilometre fire edge in the Blue Mountains where three major fires, one at Bilpin now linked to the second at Mount Victoria and a third at Springwood, burned out of control.

''It's a difficult, dynamic, dangerous fire-ground situation,'' Mr Fitzsimmons said.

The forecast was for temperatures in the mid to high 30s, very low humidity and wind gusts of between 80 and 100km/h.

Three nursing homes in Springwood were evacuated late on Tuesday as a precaution, with 400 residents moved out of the Blue Mountain into Sydney facilities.

Vivienne Francis, 74, sat quietly in her pink pyjamas and held tightly two paperback books as she watched the commotion around her in the main foyer of Principal Endeavour nursing home.

"Doesn't worry me," Ms Francis said. "Got my pyjamas, a couple of pairs of knickers and two photos of my grandkids.''

The Rural Fire Service said there would not be any forced evacuations but all schools, preschools and daycare centres in the Blue Mountains would be closed on Wednesday and anyone who didn't need to be in the area was being told to keep away.

Nine schools would be closed in the Hawkesbury, as a precaution if the fires spread east. Nine schools would be closed in the southern highlands where a fourth major blaze continued to burn near the townships of Bargo and Balmoral.

Rain that fell on parts of the fire ground through Tuesday had little to no impact. Cloud cover was again expected for Wednesday morning but it would clear and, coupled with strong winds by mid-morning, fire crews were preparing for challenging conditions early.

''Even though we awoke today to grey skies and cooler weather, and even though there is the fact that there is some rain falling, it is not substantial and we shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security,'' Premier Barry O'Farrell said.

More than 1400 firefighters would be deployed to the Blue Mountains to work alongside the 1000 already there.

Reinforcements had arrived from across the country, with the number of interstate firefighters tripling to 750 on Tuesday.

Mr Fitzsimmons said that, aside from the four big fires, all burning under the second highest alert level of ''watch and act'' on Tuesday night, there was the prospect that new fires could break out throughout Wednesday.

Aside from the big four fires, another 53 are burning across NSW, 13 of which are uncontained.