“We’ve seen that threat to the Blue Mountains and the broader Hawkesbury community averted today,” says Fitzsimmons.
Those who have left the Blue Mountains will be free to start returning home in another hour or so, the RFS says, but residents are warned there is still a lot of smoke and fire in the area.
The Stockrington Road fire at Minmi, Lake Macquarie, has been downgraded to a Watch and Act.
5.30pm: As peak hour traffic sets in, there are some traffic delays near bushfire-affected areas. The Pacific Highway is closed in a NORTHBOUND direction at Heatherbrae, Masonite Rd. Check here for latest updates.
5.10pm: Firefighters are working around the clock to help keep more than 70 fires across the state at bay. SBS reporter Brian Thomson is at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club in western Sydney, which has been transformed into a home away from home for exhausted firies.
Brian spoke with Warren Wilson, CEO of Penrith Panthers, where 700 firefighters are resting and recuperating between shifts. They have mobile shower units, sporting equipment and stretchers to sleep on, and the club is providing all meals.
"I think we did 670 breakfasts this morning, we did 840 dinners last night and we made 1200 sandwiches for lunch," says Wilson.
"It is all hands on deck. We had management, staff, they were fantastic this morning. They were in assisting with the cooking and the cleaning this morning."
4.45pm: Due to today's extreme weather conditions, 79 schools were closed in NSW today. Many were in the Blue Mountains and Newcastle regions where fire risk remains strong.
School closures may be in place tomorrow, in which case details will be announced later this evening.
4.15pm: There are currently 71 fires blazing across NSW, with 29 uncontained.
Strong winds are expected to continue for at least a few more hours, the RFS Commissioner says, with a change due later this evening that should bring cooler temperatures but no rain.
Winds will continue across NSW tomorrow, although they are expected to be less intense than today's conditions.
Watch: The latest media briefing from the RFS, issued at 4.05pm.
3.49pm: A former Rural Fire Service volunteer who lit a string of fires in western Sydney before helping to put them out will appeal his conviction.
3.45pm: RFS says 15 children remain at Redhead School Hall in Newcastle. All are safe and well. They've urged parents not to pick up kids due to fire activity on local roads.
3.40pm: Police have been forced to move a group of children from their Newcastle school due to fire threat.
"All pupils are safe and well however parents will have to collect them from their temporary location," NSW Police have advised. Read more.
3.30pm: Parts of Sydney have now reached the extreme fire danger conditions predicted for today. Hot winds are being reported as far south as Wollongong.
3.15pm: Fire intensity has picked up in the Faulconbridge and Springwood area, the RFS advises, particularly around Chapman Parade, Grose Road and Douglas Road due to the strong and gusty winds.
2.55pm: There are now three emergency warnings in place for out-of-control fires in NSW. They are:
Linksview Rd, Springwood
Gateshead fire, Lake Macquarie
Stockrington fire, Lake Macquarie
There are three Watch and Act warnings in place:
Mt York Rd, Mt Victoria
State Mine Fire, Lithgow
Hall Road, Balmoral
Click this link for latest information and fire warnings.
2.48pm: An emergency warning is now in place for Gateshead, Lake Macquarie. The RFS advises if you are in the area of Dudley or Redhead, seek shelter as the fire impacts. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. More details.
2.30pm: An emergency warning has been issued for Springwood, in the Blue Mountains.
"The fire in the Springwood and Faulconbridge area has flared up. Burning embers are being blown towards homes in the area," the latest report issued by the RFS says.
Residents in the area have been warned to be alert to burning embers that are being blown towards homes.
Additional firefighters have been deployed to the area. Click here for more information.
Watch: Firefighters prepare for increasing fire activity
2.15pm: A number of new fires have sprung up across NSW as firefighters battle to contain more than 60 blazes across the state.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says more fires could develop over the course of the afternoon.
"We're seeing an increase in fire activity, we're also seeing a number of new fires starting right across the fire weather affected areas," he says.
"It's a very fluid situation, it's a very dynamic situation and I expect to see alerts and warnings adjusted throughout the afternoon, right across the current fire grounds and indeed in response to any new fires."
Watch the latest briefing from the RFS below.
1.15pm: Fire crews struggling to contain the Mt York fire near Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains, the RFS reports. "Reports fire is crowning but still in containment lines at this stage," an update on their Facebook says.
1.10pm: An emergency warning has been issued for a fire west of Newcastle that may threaten the M1, the main road route between Sydney and Brisbane.
The NSW Rural Fire Service says the fire is burning in the area of Stockrington Road, west of the M1, and is heading towards Minmi.
Crews are working to protect homes and authorities warn the fire may threaten the motorway north of the Newcastle Link Road Interchange.
Emergency alert telephone messages are being sent to residents in the area, who are advised to seek shelter.
Earlier, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters in Sydney it would be hard to contain the blaze on such a hot, windy day.
"If they are not successful - and if they are it would be extraordinary given the weather conditions - we are likely to see warnings develop in the very near future," he said.
Children were being evacuated from Minmi Public School to the local community centre, the RFS said.
12.52pm: The RFS is advising Blue Mountains residents: "If you or your property are not prepared, or you are not confident about your ability during a bush fire, your safest option is still to leave early today – well before the fire may impact."
12.45pm: An update on the Stockrington Road fire, Minmi: If you are Minmi, follow your Survival Plan, the RFS warns. If your plan is to leave, leave now if path is clear.
12.35pm: The Rural Fire Service is warning of a fire at Stockrington Road, Minmi: If you are in the area of Stockrington Road or Minmi, seek shelter as the fire impacts.
11.05am: RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says emergency crews are weighing up the use of some waterbombing aircraft, because of strong winds in the Blue Mountains region.
Winds have climbed to around 80 kilometres an hour in some parts of fire-affected NSW, and could go up to 100 kilometres an hour.
"We're not at the peak of the weather today," says Mr Fitzsimmons.
"The worst of the weather is still to come," he added. "We still have the serious part of the day to work through."
More than 60 fires continue to burn across NSW. As of this update, 18 of them remain uncontained.
Watch the 11.05 briefing:
9.45am: SBS reporter Greg Navarro is in Katoomba where most of the town's residents have fled ahead of serious fire warnings for the day.
He says locals are taking the threat very seriously, with many schools and businesses closed.
9.35am: NSW bushfires by the numbers: 120,000 hectares burnt already. Nearly 1600 kilometres of active fire edge. There have been 1600 additional firefighters deployed to Blue Mountains in addition to the thousands already in the field. (Source: RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons)
9.05am: NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says for those people who live in the Blue Mountains, "now is the time to leave."
The Lithgow Workers Club and the Penrith Workers (open from 10am today) will be available for those who need to evacuate.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says it is only a matter of hours before firefighters expect to see a flare-up of fire activity.
"We have widespread extreme fire ratings throughout the Hunter, throughout the greater Sydney area."
"We are also pre-positioning and having units on standby right through those at-risk areas."
The RFS is also concerned about lightning from storm activity in the north west of NSW, which could spark additional fires. Currently, they're seeing lighting activity north of Bourke and down to Walgett, Mr Fitzsimmons says.
Watch the 9.05am briefing
9.00am: Fire and Rescue NSW has set up a base in Olympic Park, in western Sydney, as the region prepares for extremely challenging weather conditions.
8.50am: The Rural Fire Service is urging travellers to avoid the Great Western Highway between Penrith and Lithgow as conditions can worsen at short notice.
8.30am: Winds are already strengthening on Wednesday and overnight rain made barely an impact on the region west of Sydney, where almost 200 homes were lost to fire last week.
Winds have been recorded with speeds of up to 70km/h and lightning has been experienced behind the ranges, adjacent to the fires in the mountains, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters on Wednesday.
7.05am: Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says it will be too early to tell where and when fires will break out, but reiterated today will be a very tough day for firefighters in NSW.
"We are expecting to see extreme fire danger rating conditions right across greater Sydney and the hunter, which includes most of our most active and significant firefighting operations already underway."
Overnight, drizzle and rain showers fell on the Blue Mountains, but not enough to dampen the extreme fire threat. In fact, the presence of rain overnight has hampered backburning operations firefighters were using to help control blazes.
Watch the 7.05am RFS briefing
