Fire crews are continuing back burning operations today at the Tomago bushfire in a bid to bring the blaze into containment lines before the hot weather strikes again at the end of the week.
"Crews continue backburning on the northern side of Newcastle airport, between the airport and Richardson Road. Residents will notice an increase in smoke as aerial (so-called fire-bombs) are dropped from helicopters to burn any remaining bush," said RFS Inspector Ben Shepherd.
Richardson Road has now reopened, but there is reportedly a 40km/hr speed limit in place.
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"We are moving to hopefully have the fire contained by today or tomorrow and that's ahead of some potentially warm and windy weather across the weekend where we could start to see temperatures drive towards the 40 degrees mark so we're working to have all of this work done ahead of that potentially increased fire risk," said Inspector Shepherd.
The blaze has now burnt through more than 2,300 hectares of land.
Due to the strong southerly winds smoke from the fire continues to blow across to the Medowie area.
The RFS is also advising residents in the vicinity of Richardson Road, Grahamstown Road, Harvest Road, Pastures Drive, Medowie Road and Wade Close, Campvale to continue to monitor the situation and take the advice from fire crews on the ground.
The Rural Fire Service is reminding residents not only in the area but across the state that we are in peak fire season and it's pivotal to have your Bush Fire Survival Plan ready or make one if you don't have one.
