that's horrible Fuagf.. those firefighters must be exhausted and both physically and mentally tired of working all these fires for what? the past three weeks now? .. darn. ...
I'm so so sorry .... for all the people and the environment ...so bad!
A total fire ban is in place across much of NSW as firefighters battle 84 blazes across the state. Source: AAP
A FIRE is burning near rural homes in NSW's northwest while soaring temperatures are fuelling fears two existing blazes will break containment lines in the south.
With a top temperature of 43 [ 109.4F ]degrees forecast in some areas on Friday, firefighters are braced for a fresh wave of destruction.
There are 83 fires burning across NSW, 14 of them uncontained.
A total fire ban is once again in place across much of the state, with hot and windy conditions prompting fears existing fires could get out of control.
The 45,000-hectare blaze in the Warrumbungle National Park, west of Coonabarabran, remains a priority for fighters after breaking containment lines on Friday morning.
NSW's most destructive fire in more than a decade has already destroyed 51 properties, and is now in the region of homes at its southern end.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the run of fire to the south had caused the closure of the Newell Highway.
"There are some rural properties in that area but we've got some fire trucks and fire crews working on those properties and of course the aircraft and other resources, heavy bulldozers and things, are dispatched to assist as well."
Other notable fires that could break containment lines further south are those at Deans Gap in the Shoalhaven and Yarrabin in the Cooma-Monaro area, which have been burning since last week.
"With the severe conditions expected there today the potential is for the fire to jump containment lines and continue taking a run," an RFS spokesman told AAP.
Temperatures are expected to soar in many of the worst-affected areas on Friday, with the mercury also nudging 40C in Sydney.
Crews are on standby across the state along with two sky crane aircraft - one in Sydney and one in Wagga.
Residents in bushfire-affected areas have been urged to be ready to activate survival plans and not assume someone else has reported a fire.
Property owners along the Newell Highway near Coonabarabran say they are keeping watch on the 46,000ha blaze.
The fire, which has been burning for nearly a week, is not threatening properties but RFS spokesman Stuart O'Keefe says any blaze which spills outside containment lines "poses some concern".
A strike force is based on a property about 40km south of Coonabarabran as thick smoke spreads over the valley.
Mr O'Keefe says wind gusts of between 25 to 30km/h with a temperature of around 39C is forecast.
Phillip Bell, who runs about 1000 sheep and 40 cattle on a property further north, said he was woken by neighbours around 6am (AEDT).
"It's pretty worrying," he told AAP.
"I'm just going back now (to my property) to get everything in order.
"We will just keep contacting people to see where everything is going."
Around 200 firefighters and 20 aircraft were fighting to contain the fire which has breached the south-eastern front.
"The fire spread quite quickly in grasslands and has travelled about eight to 10km towards the Newell Highway," RFS spokesman Alex Chesser said.
A total fire ban has been declared for the area, with the highway closed in both directions near Gowang between Gilgandra and Mendooran Road, Warkton.
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