Warnings have been downgraded for fires raging across parts of the NSW mid-north coast, with the immediate risk easing despite hot and strong winds fanning their flames.
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Four emergency warnings were downgraded on Thursday night to watch and act after residents were told to seek shelter as blazes approached homes in Forster, Stockyard Flat, inland from Port Macquarie, Hillville, near Taree, and Rumba Dump in the Tapin Tops National Park.
Watch and act alerts remain active for Wandsworth, north of Armidale, for Gulf Road in Torrington, north of Inverell, and for Bills Crossing Crowdy, just east of Taree.
The Forster blaze covers more than nine hectares of the Goldens Road area, and is burning out of control to the western side of Silent Grove Road.
The NSW Rural Fire Service is warning residents in fire danger areas to monitor the conditions in case the situation changes.
Meanwhile, the Hillville fire is still burning in the Talawahl Nature Reserve, covering more than 1000 hectares in an easterly direction towards the Pacific Highway.
The fire at Stockyard Flat has burnt across more than 4600 hectares while the strong north-westerly winds are expected to push the Rumba Dump fire east on Friday.
Seven total fire bans are in place for Thursday with five to continue on Friday.
More than 60 fires are burning across NSW on Thursday night.
The service said strong westerly winds are blowing dust across much of the state's northeast, and the Central Coast and Newcastle areas are likely to endure hazy conditions over the coming days.
"These strong winds are driving up fire dangers. Important today to stay up to date, review your bush fire survival plan and know what you will do if threatened by fire," the RFS said on Twitter.
The warm, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue into Friday.
Australian Associated Press
