What we know at 11pm Saturday
- Evacuation centres: Have been opened at two locations - Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, 21 Parkes Rd Tuncurry and Club Taree, 121 Wingham Road Taree.
- Roads closures: Failford Road remains closed between the Pacific Highway and Lakes Way.
- The Lakes Way is closed between Failford Road and Aquatic Road. Blackhead Rd is now closed.
A number of fires are threatening properties in Forster and Tuncurry with at least one home destroyed.
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The Minimbah Road fire, which has has been burning for more than week, broke containment lines thanks to the strong and gusty winds.
The fire crossed the river and now is burning in bushland on the western side of Tuncurry, near South Street.
Andrew O'Sullivan, whose five-acre property on the edge of the Tuncurry township is covered in rainforest, said he'd been "right in the guts" of the blaze.
He said cabbage tree palms had been exploding and the heat of the fire "literally melted the pots off the plants" in a nearby nursery.
"It looks like Armageddon," he told AAP on Saturday.
"It's been pretty full on. We had it on four sides. I've never gone through this before and I never want to again."
He said keeping his home safe would have been very challenging without help from firefighters and friends.
Photographer Shane Chalker said he was shooting images of a bushfire before the word went out that his family were among those on his street being evacuated.
He stayed behind to put out spot fires.
"A friend was here helping me, hosing the roof," he told AAP.
"The embers were raining down on us pretty hard (and) the firebombing plane was going non-stop for a few hours."'
Tuncurry resident Sue said her property "being rained on with the charcoal and debris".
Meanwhile the Darawank fire burnt east towards the coast, before a southerly wind change sent it towards Hallidays Point. Corrigan and Black Head.
Firefighters are working to protect properties and slow the spread of the fire but it will continue to burn overnight and produce large amounts of smoke.
Smoke is expected to affect the Pacific Highway north of Failford.
Hallidays Point, Corrigan, Tallwoods Village and Black Head residents are warned to be aware of burning embers which may start spot fires ahead of the main fire front.
The Mount George fire also is burning out of control and is more than 200 hectares in size.
With a forecast wind change, the fire may move more to the north.
- with AAP
EARLIER SATURDAY
A number of out-of-control fires are burning in Minimbah and Failford Rd, Darawank area north of Forster-Tuncurry.
NSW RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said the Darawank fire appears to have destroyed one home and expressed concern about a forecast southerly wind change.
"The flank of the fire will then become the main part of that fire and it'll then head towards Hallidays Point," he told ABC.
"Firefighters are putting a lot of work trying to get containment on that fire and at least stopping it heading further north."
The fire has burnt in an easterly direction across The Lakes Way towards the coast. It is now spreading along its flanks towards Blackhead Road, Hallidays Point.
Other fires are burning in the Tuncurry and Binimbah areas.
Strong winds may blow smoke and embers well ahead of the main fire fronts.
A spot fire is also burning in the sand dunes near Forster main beach.
These embers may create spot fires and threaten properties even in built up areas including Hallidays Point, Tuncurry and Forster.
Firefighters are working to protect properties and slow the spread of the fires.
If you are in the Darawank, Corrigan or Hallidays Point, the NSW RFS has advised people to seek shelter in a solid structure as the fire front approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
Failford Road is closed between the Pacific Highway and Lakes Way. The Lakes Way is closed between Failford Road and Aquatic Road.
MINIMBAH FIRES, TUNCURRY
There are a number of fires burning in the Tuncurry and Minimbar areas and they are being affected by strong westerly winds.
There is a threat to properties around South Street, Tuncurry.
If you are in the South Street, Tuncurry area take shelter as the fire front approaches. Take shelter in a solid structure to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
If you are in Tuncurry and Forster area be alert for falling embers that can create spot fires and threaten properties.
If you are in the area of Minimbar put your bush fire survival plan into action now.
An Evacuation Centre is being opened at Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, 21 Parkes Street.
MOUNT GEORGE FIRE
An emergency warning is in place for the Mount George due to a bush fire. The fire is currently more than 200 hectares in size and is out of control.
It has burning for more than a week in the area of Knorrit Flat. The fire has broken containment lines under strong and gusty north westerly winds today.
The fire is spreading quickly towards Mount George.
Firefighters are working to protect isolated properties in the area and slow the spread of the fire.
Authorities advise that people between Knorrit Flat and Mount George who are not prepared for bushfires, should leave now towards Wingham if the path is clear.