Firefighters will work through the night backburning along properties in Sydneys Northern Beaches after residents were forced to urgently evacuate their homes after a hazard reduction blaze broke containment lines.
The NSW Rural Fire Service urged Sydneysiders near the bushfire to remain on high alert and continue monitoring conditions as they bring the blaze between Cromer Heights and Oxford Falls under control.
Blustery conditions had seen the fire rage out of control on Saturday before the areas dedicated firefighters and waterbombing aircraft slowed its spread as the wind and temperature began to drop.
More than 280 firefighters and two water-bombing aircraft had been deployed to tame the fire as residents were told to evacuate the area after the RFS issued a fire alert for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls at 2:39pm on Saturday afternoon.
The hazard reduction fire was classified as out of control by the service and was burning in an easterly direction towards Cromer Heights.
Residents who lived on Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street were told it was too late to leave and that they should seek shelter instead.
The RFS said the fire finally began to ease about two hours later and the alert was downgraded to watch and act by 4:43pm.
Nearby residents are being warned to wary of ember attacks as remnants of the fire travel in the air and threatens to create spot fires throughout the area.
The blaze has now been downgraded to an Advice level after it got out of control following a routine controlled burn.
The RFS said firefighters would be conducting backburning operations behind properties in the vicinity of Oxford Falls Rd, Lady Penrhyn Dr, Willandra Drive, Maybrook Ave and Pinduro Place overnight.
The NSW Rural Fire Service issued a Watch and Act alert for 100 Meatworks Avenue in Oxford Falls after a hazard reduction fire begun burning out of control on Saturday afternoon
Residents are being urgently evacuated from Sydneys Northern Beaches as firefighters battle an out-of-control hazard reduction burn (smoke from the blaze is pictured)
Residents were being warned these operations would result in increased smoke in the Oxford Falls and Cromer Heights area.
Willandra Rd would continue to be closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd while the essential work was undertaken.
If you are driving in the area, please drive to the conditions and take directions from firefighters, RFS urged.
The fire has now burnt 80ha and is in the vicinity of Cromer Heights.
Residents living in Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Ave, Kirrang St, and Lady Penrhyn Dr, should be particularly mindful of ember attacks.
Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front, the RFS stated.
The blaze had been downgraded to a watch and act alert by the Meatworks Fire tracking system by 4:43pm
Residents who live on Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue and Kirrang Street were told its too late to leave and to seek shelter instead
Conditions across the fire ground have begun to ease, as firefighters and water bombing aircraft continue work to slow the spread of fire.
Willandra Rd was currently closed between McIntosh Rd and Little Willandra Rd.
The blaze is burning in an easterly direction towards Maybrook Ave.
A Watch and Act warning has been issued for the area, advising residents that the fire is out of control and there is now a "heightened level of threat".
Residents in the vicinity of Maybrook Retirement Village are being urged to prepare now for the possibility of evacuating the area.
Locals are being updated on the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page
One local said they had seen streams of tourists coming to view the fire but had urged them to keep the roads clear for firefighters.
Elsewhere, Firefighters were also working to control several out of control blazes at Bingleburra Rd, Bingleburra, in Dungog, Norman Av, Thornleigh, in Hornsby, Eels Pl in Parramatta.
Two out of control fires were also burning in Cessnock, at Cessnock Rd, Neath and opposite McMullins Rd, East Branxton.
Further north, out of control fires had also been reported in Kyogle, with firefighters focusing on Mount Lindesay Hwy, Dairy Flat and Mount Lindesay Rd in Lindsay Creek.
Residents in the vicinity of Maybrook Retirement Village were earlier told to prepare for the possibility of evacuating the area.
More than 100 residents live in the village and Levande spokesman Dean Felton said that they had to shelter in place while the fire raged nearby.
More than 100 residents in the vicinity of Maybrook Retirement Village were unable to evacuate by the time they received warning of the fire and instead stayed put
Large plumes of smoke could be spotted coming from thick bushland across the city (pictured)
When the warning came … it was too late to leave, Mr Felton told the Herald.
A community centre in the middle of the site was turned into a designated refuge for residents at the peak of the blazes danger.
The fire burned quite closely to homes and retirement villages, Mr Shepherd said.
Meanwhile, those in Narraweena and Cromer had already been told to prepare for an ember attack, the NSW Rural Fire Service warned at 3.30pm.
Embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front, the service said.
The RFS has advised anyone in the area to actively keep an eye out for burning embers.
Fire and Rescue NSW is still supporting the RFS and has deployed nine trucks and crews which are now focused on property protection
The smoke from the bushfire is seen billowing over the city from Sydney Airport on Saturday
Locals were being updated on the Northern Beaches Living Facebook page.
The smoke that can be seen is unfortunately from a fire at Oxford Falls that has reached Out Of Control status, one person wrote.
Hoping our brave firies can get this one under control soon.
Large plumes of smoke coming from thick bushland in Oxford Falls could be seen across the city on Saturday afternoon.
One local reported at least two helicopters had been deployed to the area.
Another said they witnessed streams of tourists coming to view the fire but urged them to keep the roads clear for firefighters.
The smoke was visible from Manly Beach on Saturday afternoon
Large plumes of smoke could be spotted coming from thick bushland (pictured)
Allambie Vet offered emergency boarding for the pets of people who were able to safely evacuate the suburb.
Emergency services minister Jihad Dib said the vegetation in the area had presented a risk prior to the controlled fire.
After several years of rainfall and flooding the vegetation has grown quickly and that is now drying out with the warmer weather, adding to fire risk, Mr Dib said.
No property loss or damage has been reported thus far but the RFS has said their work in containing the fire will continue for hours to come.
A hazard reduction fire has been reclassified as out of control and is burning in an easterly direction towards Cromer Heights (the blaze is pictured)
A RFS spokesperson said conditions are beginning to ease across the fire ground by 4:43pm