Hot and windy conditions created optimal conditions for bushfires across the NSW eastern seaboard. 

Bushland near Racecourse Road in Cessnock began burning early on Saturday afternoon and threatened dozens of homes.

Wind gusts of up to 50kmh fanned the blaze and the Rural Fire Service issued an emergency warning, urging residents to prepare for ember attacks. Spotfires were soon reported in nearby Heddon Greta.

Further north, at Lone Pine near Port Stephens, a massive bushfire closed the Pacific Highway.

Just after 6pm the fire broke containment lines and another emergency warning was issued instructing residents to take cover. 

On social media the Rural Fire Service said there were 65 bush and grass fires burning through the state and 35 were not contained.

As night fell and temperatures dropped, the fires were downgraded to watch and act. But it was only a short reprieve. 

Two hundred firefighters battled both fires long into the night and into Sunday.

Racecourse Road residents Billy Sinigoy, Cheryl Stuckings and Joy Bellamy said the quick actions of firefighters helped save their homes. 

“It was a fireball,” Ms Stuckings said.

“It blocked the road and they evacuated down near the racecourse,” Mr Sinigoy added. 

“It was the only way in and out.”

The fire came within 50 metres of their homes.

“We were just lucky the wind blew it toward Aberdare,” Mr Sinigoy said.

Cessnock Racecourse manager Steve Tapp was on holiday in Forster when he was told the flames were approaching his house.  

Meanwhile friends and relatives fended off the bushfire with garden hoses until firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. 

It scorched his fence but stopped just short of his home.

“It might be a blessing in disguise,” he said. 

“It’s early in the season and it’ll be a long summer. This area surely won’t burn again.”

By midday on Sunday hot weather and high wind flared the Cessnock fire up again.

It began pushing toward Kitchener, Kearsley and Abernethy and the RFS urged residents to take cover. Two helicopters dumped water on the blaze as it went.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Cessnock fire had been downgraded from emergency level to ‘watch and act’ but still offered residents a stern warning.

“Due to strengthening of winds and an increase in fire activity, residents of Abernethy and Kitchener are advised it is now too late to leave and to shelter in place,” an RFS emergency fire warning at 4.33pm said.

Meanwhile the Lone Pine fire had turned north toward Limeburners Creek and the emergency warning remained in place.