FINAL UPDATE 10PM

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain and north of Lake Road. There is no immediate threat to property.

While conditions have eased this evening with a southerly change, people in the area should continue to monitor the conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

The fire is burning within containment lines. Firefighters with the assistance of waterbombing aircraft have today been able to strengthen those containment lines and will continue to work on that overnight.

Although no rain has fallen on the fireground yet this evening, higher relative humidity in the area may restrict backburning operations overnight. Firefighters will reassess conditions tomorrow morning.

Unless required, the next update will be issued by 9am Thursday 15 December 2016.

Continue to stay up to date with the bush fire situation by checking http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, listening to your local radio station or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.

For information on road closures, check http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au. Roads may be closed without warning.

4PM

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain and north of Lake Road. There is no immediate threat to property.

People in the area of Lake Road and Leggetts Drive may see smoke, embers and flames. Monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers. People in the area of Carrs Road at Neath should also monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers. There is no immediate threat to the Kurri Kurri Hospital.

The fire is burning within containment lines. Firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines and are being assisted by waterbombing aircraft and the Very Large Air Tanker.

Cessnock Road is closed between Forbes St and Neath Road, near Neath Hotel. The fire is burning close to Maitland Road, which could be closed at short notice.

People in the area may notice large amounts of smoke and increased fire activity ahead of the cool change expected this evening. People in the areas of Pelaw Main, Weston, Chinaman's Hollow and Abermain should monitor conditions and be aware of the potential for smoke and embers.

2.30PM

Hot conditions have led to the increased fire behaviour today.

A southerly change is expected this afternoon and should bring respite for fire fighters.

WATCH the press conference here.

2PM

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain and north of Lake Road. Currently there is no immediate threat to property.

People in the area of Lake Road and Leggetts Drive will see smoke, embers and flames. Monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers. People in the area of Carrs Road at Neath should also monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

There is no immediate threat to the Kurri Kurri Hospital.

Firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines. They are being assisted by waterbombing aircraft and the Very Large Air Tanker.

Cessnock Road is closed between Forbes St and Neath Road, near Neath Hotel.

The fire is burning close to Maitland Road, which could be closed at short notice.

A cool change is expected this evening. However there may be strong winds which may cause an increase in fire activity ahead of the change. People in the areas of Pelaw Main, Weston, Chinaman's Hollow and Abermain should monitor conditions and be aware of the potential for smoke and embers.

Advice

If you are in the area of Lake Road and Leggetts Drive in Abermain, or Carrs Road at Neath, monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

Check and follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.

1.30PM

A Chinamans Hollow residents has described the scene as flames from a bushfire passed within metres of his home. 

Troy Close, whose home backs onto bushland, said he saw flames "twice the height of the house" sweep past at about midday on Wednesday. 

"The flames were just massive," he said. 

"It just went right through in the space of 10 minutes. 

"Firefighters and choppers were here trying their best to save people's properties, just like they have. 

"[Firefighters] told us to keep hosing out roofs and awnings. 

"Every time they did something, another fire would start up with the wind. The wind is the problem. 

"It's not real good."

Firefighters are continuing to battle the deliberately lit blaze, which started at about lunchtime on Tuesday. 

The fire, which has burnt 848 hectares of land, has moved south-east. 

North-westerly winds at lunch time on Wednesday are expected to turn south-south-east later in the afternoon. 

12.30PM

The fire is currently more than 800 hectares in size and is being controlled.

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain and north of Lake Road. Currently there is no immediate threat to property.

As temperatures increase, people in the area of Lake Road and Leggetts Drive will see an increase in smoke and flames. Monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

There is no immediate threat to the Kurri Kurri Hospital.

People in the area of Carrs Road at Neath should also monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

Firefighters are working to slow the spread of the fire. They are being assisted by waterbombing aircraft and the Very Large Air Tanker.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the high 30s later today with strong north westerly winds. These conditions will put pressure on containment lines.

The fire is burning close to Maitland Road, which could be closed at short notice.

Cessnock Road is closed between Forbes St and Neath Road, near Neath Hotel.

Advice

If you are in the area of Lake Road and Leggetts Drive in Abermain, or Carrs Road at Neath, monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

Check and follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.

11.33AM

The Abermain-Neath bushfire has been upgraded to watch and act level.

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain and north of Lake Road.

While there is no immediate threat to property, residents are advised to monitor conditions and be alert to smoke and embers.

Firefighters are working to slow the spread of the fire, assisted by waterbombing aircraft.

Strong north-westerly winds are predicted to put pressure on the containment lines.

The fire is burning close to Maitland Road, which could be closed at short notice.

Stay tuned to http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au for information on road closures.

9.30AM

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain in the vicinity of Hebburn Road. Currently there is no property at threat.

Residents in the area of Neath and Abermain are advised to continue to monitor the situation and take advice from firefighters on the ground.

Firefighters have taken advantage of slightly better conditions overnight to conduct backburning operations and crews will continue to work on strengthening containment lines this morning.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the high 30's later today with strong north westerly winds. These conditions will put pressure on containment lines.

7.30AM

A bush fire is burning in the Neath and Abermain area. The fire is currently 636 hectares in size.

Current Situation

The fire continues to burn in bushland south of Abermain in the vicinity of Hebburn Road. Currently there is no property at threat.

Residents in the area of Neath and Abermain are advised to continue to monitor the situation and take advice from firefighters on the ground.

Firefighters have taken advantage of slightly better conditions overnight to conduct backburning operations and crews will continue to work on strengthening containment lines this morning.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the high 30's later today with strong north westerly winds. These conditions will put pressure on containment lines.

Advice

Monitor conditions in your area.

Check and follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan. If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.

Residents of in the areas of Neath and Abermain and along Hebburn Road, Leggets Drive and Lake Road are advised to monitor the situation and take advice from firefighters in the area.

Continue to stay up to date with the bush fire situation by checking http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, listening to your local radio station or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.

If you live in the area but are away from home, it may not be safe to return to your property. For information on road closures, check http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au. 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13

UPDATE 6.25PM

The Rural Fire Service has confirmed it is treating the Ambermain and Neath bushfires as suspicious.

The RFS will launch an investigation, but both fires are at this stage believed to have been deliberately lit.

UPDATE 5.40PM

Cessnock Road has re-opened but motorists are advised to drive to the conditions as there may be smoke and reduced visibility in the area. Stay tuned to http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au for updates.

The Abermain and Neath fires remain at Watch and Act level and residents of Charles Street, Ridley Street and York Street, Abermain and Carrs Road at Neath, and near the Hunter Economic Zone are advised to monitor conditions.

UPDATE 4.45PM

Firefighters, with assistance from water dropping aircraft, are slowly gaining the upper hand at the fires in Abermain and Neath.

Residents in the areas of Charles Street, York Street, Ridley Street and Carrs Road are advised to monitor conditions.

Maitland (Cessnock) Road is currently closed in both directions with other local road closures in place.

Areas including Abermain, Weston and Neath are experiencing loss of power.

In current conditions, embers may be blown ahead of the fire, creating spot fires. These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front.

UPDATE 4.15PM

The fires have been downgraded to Watch and Act.

There are currently two fires in the area of Abermain and Neath which have partly joined. One fire front is burning to the north of Carrs Road heading south east towards Carrs Road, Neath.

The second fire front is burning near Forbes Street, moving towards Charles Street. Both fires have burnt approximately 119 hectares.

Residents in the areas of Charles Street, York Street, Ridley Street and Carrs Road are advised to monitor conditions.

Maitland (Cessnock) Road is currently closed in both directions with other local road closures in place.

In current conditions, embers may be blown ahead of the fire, creating spot fires. These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front.

Advice

Put your Bush Fire Survival Plan into action.

UPDATE 3PM

Residents in the areas of Charles Street, York Street, Ridley Street and Carrs Road are advised to seek shelter as the fire front arrives.

Advice

Act now, you may be in danger. Seek shelter as the fire approaches to protect you from the heat of the fire.

Well prepared and actively defended homes can offer safety during the fire. More details here.

REPORT

Fire crews are battling two blazes that are threatening homes near bushland at Abermain. 

One fire started near Forbes Street just before 1pm, it is moving towards Charles Street. The other fire is burning to the north of Carrs Road heading south east towards Carrs Road, Neath.

Police, Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews are on the scene, with assistance from water dropping aircraft. 

The Rural Fire Service has issued a “watch and act” warning to residents and businesses near Forbes Street.

Residents in the areas of Forbes Street, Albury Street, Carrs Road, Coolibah Road, Banksia Road, Acacia Road, Waratah Close should remain in place and take advice from firefighters on the ground.

Maitland (Cessnock) Road is currently closed in both directions.

In current conditions, embers may be blown ahead of the fire, creating spot fires. These spot fires may threaten homes earlier than the predicted main fire front.

“There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family,” the RFS said in a statement.

Residents in the Forbes Street area are hosing their homes as emergency crews continue to work to extinguish the blaze.

One resident, Jordan Appleyard, said it was the worst fire she had seen in the area in a decade. 

"I was inside and all of a sudden I saw a pile of smoke," she said. 

"I ran outside and started knocking on people's doors and the fire was right here."

Another resident Tania Gammage was with her dog Zephre watching crews battle the fire as she spoke to Fairfax Media. 

"I came out for some reason and I could just see flames everywhere," she said. 

 "So it was going for quite a while before I heard fire engines."

A separate bushfire has broken out at Old Maitland Rd, Sawyers Gully, the RFS reports.

Firefighters are in property protection mode.

“We’re asking people if they see any unattended fires to please report it,” the spokesman said.

WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

If your life is at risk, call Triple -0 immediately.

Continue to stay up to date with the bush fire situation by checking http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, listening to your local radio station or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737.

If you live in the area but are away from home, it may not be safe to return to your property. For information on road closures, check http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au. Roads may be closed without warning.