Update – 11.42am
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A BUSHFIRE burning north-west of Bathurst has increased in size and has now been declared a “bushfire emergency”.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has invoked Section 44 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 in order to declare the emergency.
The blaze has increased in size and now covers 300 hectares and the RFS has issued a major fire update.
“A fire is burning in grassland and forested areas to the east of Freemantle Road, Gowan,” the update states.
“Current conditions are pushing the fire in an easterly and south easterly direction towards the Macquarie River.
“More than 80 firefighters on the ground are working in challenging conditions to contain the fire supported by five water bombing aircraft including the large and very large air tankers.
“At this stage no properties are under immediate threat.”
An RFS spokesman said the Commissioner’s declaration of a Section 44 allows more resources from outside the local district to be deployed.
“There is one isolated property close to the fire, but there is currently no threat,” he said.
People are requested to avoid travelling to the area so they do not impede firefighting operations.
Residents should monitor conditions in the area.
“The fire is producing large amounts of smoke,” the RFS update said.
“For people with health issues they should take appropriate precautions such as staying indoors and closing all windows and doors.”
Earlier – 7.35am
FIREFIGHTERS remain on scene at an out-of-control bushfire north-west of Bathurst.
The blaze, which now covers 228 hectares, is located off the Freemantle Road at Gowan, around 31 kilometres north-west of Bathurst.
The fire originally ignited on Saturday afternoon when a property owner was conducting welding operations and a spark occurred.
While the fire was brought under control by Sunday, it reignited in hot, windy weather on Tuesday and quickly spread into bushland.
Multiple brigades and air crews were tasked to the site on Tuesday and remained there overnight.
More to come.