UPDATE
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The fire burning on the Big Island near Forster Keys has died down considerably.
RFS and Fire and Rescue crews worked through the evening last night in an effort to control the blaze and were back fighting it again today.
The fire has burnt more than 100 hectares of bushland so far, according to RFS district officer Stuart Robb, but he believed the worst of it was over.
Crews are currently wet lining a narrow area on the northern point of the island, with the intention of containing the fire when it approaches.
A helicopter will once again work with the crews throughout the day.
Mr Robb said the intention was to have the fire well-contained by the time the predicted gale force winds hit this afternoon.
He advised there would once again be smoke in the vicinity of the fire but said there was no threat to property.
"From here we'll mop and patrol for the next couple of days to make sure it's all done and dusted but we should see no issue moving forward," he said.
RFS crews are also fighting a bushfire on Lindfield Park Road, Port Macquarie that has been burning for some time.
UPDATE
The bush fire currently burning on the Big Island near Forster Keys is being controlled, according to NSW Rural Fire Service district officer Stuart Robb.
A water-bombing helicopter was brought in at around 11am to help stem the blaze, and Mr Robb believed RFS and Fire and Rescue crews would continue to make headway against it throughout the day.
"At this point in time we should have a good handle on it by late this afternoon," he said.
"There is a change expected, so hopefully we're on top of it by that stage."
Mr Robb believed the conditions had improved considerably in the last hour and the smoke was decreasing.
He said there was no threat to property at this stage and the ash that was raining down on nearby residential areas was a by-product of the fuel burning on the island.
He believed there was little threat of it causing fires elsewhere as it was coming down cool.
"With that sort of fuel it burns quite hot, so you get a lot of ash in the smoke," he said.
It has not been established yet how the fire started but Mr Robb said it was under investigation.
Earlier...
A bushfire burning on the Big Island, near Forster Keys is under observation and at a 'watch and brief' situation.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigades from Tuncurry, Diamond Beach, Pacific Palms and Green Point along with Fire and Rescue Forster were notified of the fire just after 5am this morning, Wednesday, August 21.
Tuncurry RFS fire control officer, Dave Milstead said due to the location of the fire they could only monitor the situation.
He said the fire was under investigation, and a fire boat had been sent out to assess the situation.
"The brigades will standby and ensure there is no ember attack to nearby houses," he said.
Brigades also had been sent to Green Point.
Mr Milstead said his main concern was the westerly winds which were predicted to reach up to 40km/h later today.
According to the Fires Near Me website, approximately four hectares of the island, which had no infrastructure and comprised mainly paperbark and palm trees, swamp and grassland, had been burnt out since the fire began.