BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE
UPDATE 8:15PM
CAMPVALE
The bushfire at Campvale is no longer burning out of control and has been downgraded to Watch & Act.
Easing conditions and the hard work of firefighters has slowed the fire's spread, and crews will continue to work overnight to build containment lines.
As of 8pm, the fire continues to burn close to homes at Salt Ash but there is no direct threat.
Strong winds are expected to continue through the evening.
An evacuation centre is open at Irrawang High School, Mt Hall Rd Raymond Terrace.
One lane of Nelson Bay Rd has been reopened, with heavy traffic expected as residents try to get in and out of the Port Stephens area.
Richardson Rd, Medowie Rd and Lemon Tree Passage Rd remain closed.
WESTON
The fire burning on Hospital Rd at Weston has been downgraded to Advice.
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EARLIER:
CAMPVALE
Conditions are easing but firefighters are still working to slow the spread of the fire and protect homes.
The fire has grown to 590 hectares in size and continues to burn out of control.
Residents in the area of Salt Ash Ave, Hideaway Dr, Shady Ave, Nelson Bay Rd, Lemon Tree Passage Rd, Janet Pde and Marsh Rd are advised it is too late to leave
and to seek shelter.
Any residents outside of the area are warned it is unsafe to return home.
An evacuation centre is open at Irrawang High School, Mt Hall Rd Raymond Terrace.
One lane of Nelson Bay Rd has been reopened, with heavy traffic expected as residents try to get in and out of the Port Stephens area.
Richardson Rd, Medowie Rd and Lemon Tree Passage Rd remain closed and there is no forecast for when they will reopen.
Bus travellers are advised the 130 and 131 buses are not running due to the closures.
WESTON
The fire burning at Weston has been downgraded to Watch and Act.
The immediate threat to homes has lowered, but NSW RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW are continuing efforts to slow the spread of the fire.
According to the RFS, the fire is no longer burning out of control.
Earlier:
Both the Campvale (Salt Ash) and Weston bushfires are attracting an EMERGENCY WARNING.
Power is out to around 700 homes and businesses in parts of Williamtown, Salt Ash and Bobs Farm.
An emergency crew is on its way to locate the fault and get power back, meanwhile, we're hearing reports of some mobile phone coverage issues in those same areas.
CAMPVALE:
Residents in the area of Salt Ash Ave, Hideaway Dr, Shady Ave, Nelson Bay Rd, Lemon Tree Passage Rd, Janet Pde and Marsh Rd are advised it is too late to leave and to seek shelter.
Large air tankers are being used to control the blaze, which is now 94 hectares.
The fire has crossed Medowie Road and is burning under strong winds towards Salt Ash.
"For people who are experiencing smoke and ember attack, we are advising those people to shelter in place - it's too late to leave," said Inspector Rolf Poole from the Hunter RFS.
"We have had reports from our firefighters that they're working on fire as it enters into people's properties, into their backyards. No direct threats onto the structures themselves...
"The threat remains very real with ember attack and the fire spotting ahead of itself - with the current wind conditions, we are expecting unfavourable conditions to continue well into the evening," Inspector Poole said.
Richardson Road is closed between Grahamstown Road and Nelson Bay Road. Medowie Road is also closed between Ferodale Road and Nelson Bay Road.
There is NO ACCESS to Nelson Bay via road at the moment.
WESTON:
The WESTON fire is burning in the area of Hospital Road. It's moving in a south-easterley direction towards Leggetts Drive, with similar weather conditions to that of Salt Ash.
The fire has moved past Kurri Kurri Hospital and is moving towards Pelaw Main.
Emergency Alert telephone warnings are being sent to homes and mobile phones in the Pelaw Main area.
If you're in the area, seek shelter if the fire impacts. If you're away from your home, it may not be safe to return.
UPDATE 3:25PM
An EMERGENCY WARNING has been issued for a bushfire burning at Campvale.
The fire has crossed Medowie Road and is burning towards Salt Ash, out of control.
The RFS fears it may impact properties within the next hour.
Large air tankers and on-ground crews are working to protect homes and slow the spread of the fire.
Emergency alert phone messages are being sent to homes in the area. If you receive one of these messages, take action.
The advice is, if you are in SALT ASH it is TOO LATE TO LEAVE.
SEEK SHELTER as the fire front arrives and protect yourself from its heat.
Put your bushfire survival plan into action. If your LIFE is at risk, call 000 immediately.
Meanwhile,
A WATCH AND ACT level bushfire is burning at Weston on Hospital Road.
It's burning in a south-easterly direction towards Leggetts Drive.
The fire is listed as OUT OF CONTROL but is currently only 1 hectare in size.
EARLIER:
A bushfire is burning out of control at Campvale in Port Stephens and is listed at WATCH AND ACT level.
NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue crews are battling the blaze, which is currently 8 hectares, on the southern side of Richardson Road.
Richardson Road and Medowie Road are both closed between Grahamstown and Nelson Bay Roads, with motorists urged to avoid the area as emergency services respond.
Anyone needing to travel should instead use Cabbage Tree Road.
Route 145 buses are diverting away from Richardson Road and are delayed by about 20 minutes.
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| Image courtesy RFS. |
