A NSW tourist town has had its only road reopened after conditions eased around a fast-moving bushfire burning north of Newcastle airport.
The road to Nelson Bay was shut for about three hours until 7pm as a blaze burned through more than 725 hectares near Salt Ash.
NSW Rural Fire Service lifted an earlier emergency warning about 8pm for the semi-rural Salt Ash community.
But it warned though there was no current direct threat, the fire would still burn close to homes.
"Easing conditions and hard work by firefighters has slowed the spread of the fire," RFS said.
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Strong winds are expected to continue in the area through the evening and a watch and act message is in place.
School buses to the peninsula had earlier been ordered to drop students at an evacuation centre at Irrawang High School in Raymond Terrace.
The fire had been propelled by 55km/h winds with gusts up to 85km/h.
Meanwhile, a fire near Cessnock was downgraded to an advice message as conditions eased and it was brought under control.
Firefighters had earlier told residents in the hamlet of Pelaw Main to seek shelter immediately and issued an emergency warning as the blaze east of Kurri Kurri hospital quickly scorched 60 hectares.
