Bushfire Update Tues 1:30pm 8th Nov

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Lone Pine Fire at Port Stephens continues to burn, with flames having already ripped through just over 9000 hectares of land.

Work is continuing to contain the blaze, with fire fighters watching for changing conditions as a southerly change is expected to move through this afternoon.

There is the potential for increased fire activity on the western side of Karuah and to the west of Swan Bay Road, with residents urged to follow instructions from fire fighters in the area.

Residents in the area of Karuah, Limeburners Creek, Medowie, Nine Mile Creek and Swan Bay should continue to stay alert.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington says getting the right information, from the right sources, is vital.

"Heed the advice of the fire fighters and police on the ground and always look at the official sources for advice - you've got to be very careful about where we are looking and where we are taking advice from and it's so important that we're going to the official sources for all advice."

The Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service websites and social media are the most reliable sources, as well as police, rescue and fire services on the ground.

Check www.livetraffic.com for updates on road closures.

Bushfire Update Tues 8 Nov 2016

BY IAN CROUCH

 A massive bushfire burning north of Medowie has been downgraded overnight to the Advice Level thanks to favourable conditions.

Crews worked through the night backburning and putting in containment lines on the southern and eastern sides of the 8,000 hectare blaze.

However John Redman from the Rural Fire Service says firefighters remain on alert with strong winds forecast today before a southerly change blows through early this afternoon.


"But we are in for a really warm day today - temperatures in excess of 35 degrees, really low humidity and there's going to be a north-westerly wind. But we are expecting a cooler change to come through a bit later this afternoon which could bring a few showers and some relief to firefighters," he said.

More than 250 firefighters have been deployed to fight the fire along with DC-10 air tankers which are capable of dropping 40,000 litres of fire retardant or water on the blaze.

People living along Taylors Road and Pipe Clay Road, north of Medowie are being told to monitor conditions and be aware of smoke or embers 

The Buckets Way was re-opened overnight and Medowie Road was re-opened this morning, however motorists are being urged to check https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html in case there's a need to carry out emergency roadworks.
 
Meanwhile, the Cessnock fire has now been contained after burning through more than a thousand hectares.

Crews spent the night patrolling and mopping up.