Australia Weather News

Up to 16 homes have been lost as bushfires burn across the NSW Mid North and Central Coasts. 

Just before 4pm, more than 50 incidents were listed on the NSW Rural Fire Services' website with two of these at emergency level — Koolewong on the NSW Central Coast and Milsons Gully in the Upper Hunter.

It comes as the state experiences another dangerous bushfire day, with extreme fire danger forecast for eastern and central NSW.

Koolewong fire

Live video from the network news helicopter shows a bushfire burning houses and trees on Nimbin Road at Koolewong on the Central Coast, south of Gosford.

Residents in the area are at risk and are being urged to leave now if the path is clear towards Woy Woy.

The Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington said firefighters were starting to get the upper hand, but there was still a long way to go.

"It's going to take several hours to get through this weather, we have warm temperatures, some strong winds on that fire, so it is very difficult at this stage and there is a very big threat still in place," he said.

"We are asking people to heed the warnings, take advice from firefighters on the ground.

"An evacuation centre has been established at the Gosford RSL.

"We have no reports of injury at this stage … but there are active firefighting operations, we need that area clear to allow those fire appliances easy access."

Deputy Commissioner Millington said work was being done to control the fire from the ground and air.

"We have several firefighting aircraft dispatched to that fire … those aircraft will assist us with getting access to the fire in difficult terrain," he said.

The bushfire has impacted trains on the Central Coast and Newcastle line, with no services running between Gosford and the Hawkesbury River.

Commuters are also advised that trains will stop on platforms or between stations for longer than normal while the incident is ongoing.

Bulahdelah fire

Meanwhile, further north, a fire at Bulahdelah that started on Thursday remains at a watch and act level and has burnt more than 2,500 hectares.

RFS NSW confirmed earlier today up to four homes in the Crawford River area had been lost.

"We are actively fighting that fire. It has started to have increased activity this afternoon as the conditions warm," Deputy Commissioner Millington said.

Ms Bentham said access to the Pacific Highway fire ground at Bulahdelah had been "very difficult" in the formidable terrain.

"We are relying a lot on heavy plant to help push in and consolidate containment around the fire, which has been tough," she said.

"But we are also very lucky we have an amazing fleet of specialist aviation resources to help with bucketing water onto the fire to help with suppression, and also our bigger planes that can drop retardant lines to help slow that spread."

Ms Bentham said it was thought lightning from a storm a few days ago sparked the fire, but firefighters would not be able to confirm this as the area will not be "safe enough for people to enter for quite some time".

There are no reports of injuries at this stage.

Milsons Gully

A bushfire that has been burning for several days within the Goulburn River National Park, west of Muswellbrook, was upgraded to emergency level on Saturday afternoon at Milsons Gully.

The RFS has urged people to be cautious, with expectations "very hot, dry, windy" conditions could potentially make things worse.

"The [Milsons Gully] fire activity is likely to increase, particularly along the Bylong Valley Way and potentially the Golden Highway," RFS Operational Officer Monica Bentham told Newcastle's Saturday Breakfast.

"These roads may close at short notice due to smoke and fire impacting, so it's important people monitor the conditions very closely today and know what they're going to do.

"Identify a safe location in case a situation changes and you can't leave and this may include a well-cleared area or solid structure or their home on the opposite side of the fire."

'Perfect combination' of weather conditions

Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said areas of most concern were eastern and central NSW.

"We have severe heatwave conditions for much of eastern NSW, basically from Newcastle all the way down to around Batemans Bay and extending inland as well," he said.

Strong wind and intense heat is expected to continue for most of NSW.

"We're seeing temperatures in the high 30s to the low 40s and strong and gusty winds, which is a perfect combination for fires to develop and grow if they do get going," Mr Narramore said.

"We're concerned and we could also see some thunderstorms as well today, and that could spark more fires."

Authorities are urging people to monitor warnings, prepare early and avoid unnecessary travel in fire-prone areas.