<\/p>\n
Trains have stopped running on the Central Coast and Newcastle line after a fire broke out on Nimbin Road at Koolewong. (Supplied: Central Coast Council)<\/p>\n
Koolewong fire<\/p>\n
Live video from the network news helicopter shows a bushfire burning houses and trees on Nimbin Road at Koolewong on the Central Coast, south of Gosford.<\/p>\n
Residents in the area are at risk and are being urged to leave now if the path is clear towards Woy Woy.<\/p>\n
The Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington said firefighters were starting to get the upper hand, but there was still a long way to go.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to take several hours to get through this weather, we have warm temperatures, some strong winds on that fire, so it is very difficult at this stage and there is a very big threat still in place,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are asking people to heed the warnings, take advice from firefighters on the ground.<\/p>\n
“An evacuation centre has been established at the Gosford RSL.<\/p>\n
“We have no reports of injury at this stage \u2026 but there are active firefighting operations, we need that area clear to allow those fire appliances easy access.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At least six houses have been destroyed in Kollewong on the Central Coast. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Deputy Commissioner Millington said work was being done to control the fire from the ground and air.<\/p>\n
“We have several firefighting aircraft dispatched to that fire \u2026 those aircraft will assist us with getting access to the fire in difficult terrain,”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
he said.<\/p>\n
The bushfire has impacted trains on the Central Coast and Newcastle line, with no services running between Gosford and the Hawkesbury River.<\/p>\n
Commuters are also advised that trains will stop on platforms or between stations for longer than normal while the incident is ongoing.<\/p>\n
Loading…Bulahdelah fire<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, further north, a fire at Bulahdelah that started on Thursday remains at a watch and act level and has burnt more than 2,500 hectares.<\/p>\n
RFS NSW confirmed earlier today up to four homes in the Crawford River area had been lost.<\/p>\n
“We are actively fighting that fire. It has started to have increased activity this afternoon as the conditions warm,”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Deputy Commissioner Millington said.<\/p>\n
Ms Bentham said access to the Pacific Highway fire ground at Bulahdelah had been “very difficult” in the formidable terrain.<\/p>\n
“We are relying a lot on heavy plant to help push in and consolidate containment around the fire, which has been tough,” she said.<\/p>\n
“But we are also very lucky we have an amazing fleet of specialist aviation resources to help with bucketing water onto the fire to help with suppression, and also our bigger planes that can drop retardant lines to help slow that spread.”<\/p>\n
Loading…<\/p>\n
Ms Bentham said it was thought lightning from a storm a few days ago sparked the fire, but firefighters would not be able to confirm this as the area will not be “safe enough for people to enter for quite some time”.<\/p>\n
There are no reports of injuries at this stage.<\/p>\n
Milsons Gully<\/p>\n
A bushfire that has been burning for several days within the Goulburn River National Park, west of Muswellbrook, was upgraded to emergency level on Saturday afternoon at Milsons Gully.<\/p>\n