BY JESSICA ROUSE
For the latest update Monday 15th January:
Masonite Road Fire updates
UPDATE 7:30PM
Thanks to some easing conditions on the fire ground, crews are gaining the upper hand so the bushfire at Tomago has been downgraded from EMERGENCY to WATCH AND ACT.
It's still labelled as being OUT OF CONTROL.
The blaze continues to burn to the north of Newcastle Airport in the vicinity of Wade Close, Campvale, Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive and Medowie Road. Residents are being advised to continue to monitor the situation and take the advice from firefighters on the ground.
Strong southerly winds are expected to continue through the night pushing the blaze north.
Residents in the area are being advised to make sure they have a Bush Fire Survival Plan in place and know how to use it if necessary.
UPDATE 6:50PM
The Rural Fire Service has just issued an EMERGENCY WARNING to residents on Masonite Road. Fire crews are on the ground working to protect homes and the Very Large Air Tanker 'Nancy Bird' is helping crews as well to slow the spread of the blaze.
The fire is also being fought close to homes in Wade Close as the fire continues to burn north fanned by southerly winds.
The latest advice from the RFS at 6:26pm:
"Monitor conditions in your area.
Residents in the vicinity of Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road and Wade Close, Campvale, are advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Check and follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.
Residents in the vicinity of Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace, are advised to continue to monitor the situation and take advice from firefighters on the ground."
UPDATE 5:30PM
The blaze is now burning OUT OF CONTROL and the RFS has issued a warning to residents in Wade Close, Campvale as the fire is expected to reach them in the next 30 minutes. Fire crews are in position to protect homes.
The advice still stays in place for residents in the Campvale area around Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road, Wade Close are advised to SEEK SHELTER as the fire approaches.
Check and follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan.
UPDATE: 4:40PM
There are currently 136 fire fighters on the ground battling the Tomago blaze.
The Very Large Air Tanker has been assisting as well as other air tankers.
Greg Allen from the Rural Fire Service said there is a strong, gusty southerly expected to come through tonight and fire crews are planning to accommodate for those changing conditions.
Residents in the Campvale area around Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road, Wade Close are advised to SEEK SHELTER as the fire approaches.
Greg Allen said that seeking shelter means doing what you can to stay safe - staying in your home making sure the bathtub, buckets, anything you can find is filled with water so if you need to put out spot fires you can and actively protect your home.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is urging residents to follow their Bush Fire Survival Plans and keep an eye on the potentially changing conditions.
If your life is at risk call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For the latest update from RFS head to:
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
There are reports Newcastle Airport is now closed to all flights in and out of the airfield.
Residents in Medowie are being told ash and embers could reach them from the blaze.
UPDATE: 4PM
There are some backburning operations underway in the fire area and residents in Medowie are also being told ash and embers may fall in the area from the blaze.
The 'Skycrane' water bombing aircraft has flown in and is helping fire crews battle the blaze.
Winds continue to fan the blaze heading north.
UPDATE 3:45PM
The bushfire continues to burn at an EMERGENCY level.
The advice to residents in the vicinity of Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road, Wade Close and Campvale are advised to SEEK SHELTER as the fire approaches.
It's now burnt through more than 1,500 hectares of land.
For the latest updates head to:
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
Jetstar has cancelled all remaining flights in and out of Newcastle Airport.
The airport is asking passengers to check the status of other flights with their airlines.
There are road closures in the area as well, Richardson Road is closed between Benjamin Lee Drive and Medowie Road.
For the latest head to:
https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html
EARLIER: 2PM
The bushfire at Tomago has again been upgraded to an EMERGENCY level.
The blaze spotted north of Newcastle Airport just south of Richardson Road near Grahamstown Road and is heading north towards Campvale.
If you are in the vicinity of Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road and Wade Close, Campvale, are advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
The advice from the Rural Fire Service is to continue to monitor the conditions in your area and stay alert. If you don't have a Bush Fire Survival Plan decide what you will do if the situation changes, leaving early is your safest option. If you have a plan be ready to put it in action.
Residents in the vicinity of Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road and Wade Close, Campvale, are advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Residents in the vicinity of Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace, are advised to continue to monitor the situation and take advice from firefighters on the ground.
