BY OLIVIA DILLON and IAN CROUCH
UPDATE 5.00pm
Exhausted firefighters are gaining the upper hand on a large bushfire burning near Kearsley, with the alert level dropped to Watch and Act.
Improving weather conditions have allowed crews to slow the spread of the blaze, which has burnt through more than 195 hectares since it broke out near Allandale Street and Lake Road early this afternoon.
Although the flames threatened around 50 homes, scores of RFS and Fire and Rescue crews have managed to prevent any major property losses.
An evacuation centre is in place at East Cessnock Bowling Club, while residents with livestock can take them to Cessnock Showgrounds in Mount View Road at Cessnock.
The Australian Red Cross has also opened a register for people separated from their family, friends and loved ones.
People can go to the redcross.org.au website and take advantage of the Register. Find. Reunite service.
UPDATE 4.40pm
An Emergency Warning remains in place for a large bushfire burning south east of Cessnock.
The fire broke out in bushland near Allandale Street and Lake Road at Kearsley at about 12.30pm and quickly spread southeast fanned by strong winds gusting up to 30 km/hr.
It's now burnt through 195 hectares, with the emergency warning now extended to Ellrington as well as Abernethy due to spot fires starting to the east of the main fire front.
Several residents in Lake Road fled their homes as the flames approached their backyards.
The RFS says around 50 homes are under threat but there are no reports of property losses at this stage.
A strike force from Sydney is being supported by water-bombing helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Another strike force made up of Fire and Rescue crews from Mayfield West, Lambton, Tarro and Belmont have now joined the firefighting effort.
The RFS says residents of Abernethy and Ellrington who have not left their homes, it's too late to do so.
Meanwhile an evacuation centre has been set up at East Cessnock Bowling Club in Neath Street Cessnock.
Also, residents with livestock can take them to Cessnock Showgrounds in Mount View Road at Cessnock.
Lake Road remains closed in both directions between Leggetts Drove and Allandale Street.
Another fire burning in the Wattagan National Park has burnt through 19 hectares and remains at Watch and Act for residents in the area of Mount Nellinda Road at North Cooranbong.
UPDATE:
An emergency warning is now in place for two townships in the Cessnock LGA, as a bushfire continues to threaten homes.
Embers from a fire which broke out at Kearsley earlier today are being blown ahead of the blaze and are starting spot fires in Elrington.
It means residents in Aberneathy and Elrington are in danger, and are being told to seek shelter in a solid structure.
The fire is now burning in around 113 hectares of bushland.
At least four Hunter Fire and Rescue crews have been tasked to join the strike force working to control the blaze.
EARLIER:
A major bushfire burning near Kearsley south of Cessnock has been elevated to Emergency Level Warning,.
The RFS says residents of Abernethy to shelter in place as it is too late to leave your home.
Dozens of fire crews are in the area around Kearsley Road and Kersley Selections Road.
It's understood at least one strike force force team is being deployed from Sydney.
There are reports from the fire ground suggesting flame heights are 20 metres high and through the tree tops in surrounding bush.
The fire has grown to 12 hectares in size.
MORE TO COME.
Two bushfires in the Hunter have been updated to Watch and Act status on Tuesday afternoon.
Residents around Mount Nellinda Road at Cooranbong are being urged to prepare their homes and families now, as a blaze on Gap Creek Road at Martinsville threatens nearby homes
The fire is currently 8 hectares in size and can be seen from the M1 Pacific Motorway, moving in a south easterly direction towards Morisset.
Meantime,
Several RFS crews are working to contain a two hectare bushfire near Allandale Street and Lake Road at Kearsley.
Winds between 25 and 30 kilometres per hour are reportedly sending the flames in a south westerly direction towards Abernethy.
A water-bombing helicopter is helping RFS crews to control the blaze.
Kearsley Road has been closed to traffic.
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