Sindy and Raymond Pickering’s home is the only house in the bushland on the opposite side of the railway tracks on Cessnock Street.

They are crediting the efforts of police officer Matthew Street and firefighters for saving their home and lives.

Mr Street knows the Pickerings through motorcycle racing, and knowing the isolated location of their house, came to warn them of the fire as it roared closer to their property.

Two fire trucks arrived at the same time.

“It was pretty hectic, we grabbed the kids and the four dogs and my daughter’s ashes and got in the car,” Mrs Pickering said.

“I couldn’t even put the key in the ignition, my hands were shaking.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

But within about two minutes flames had surrounded them – and it was too late to leave.

“When they said ‘you’re trapped’ it was so horrible, those words made my heart sink,” Mrs Pickering said.

“I thought we were going to die or the house would burn down.”

But besides a few scorch marks on the fence, their home was unscathed.

Mrs Pickering said it was lucky they had brought in a bobcat to do some clearing around their property two weeks ago.

She said they had a bushfire survival plan, but the only thing they had time to do was put the dogs in the living area so they were easily accessible.

“It came around so quickly, I said ‘gosh, it’s looking a bit black,” she said.

“Then it went round in a big brown whirl, then I heard the sirens.

“The next thing they came down our driveway, and Matt Street came in on his motorbike telling us to get in the car, and get out, it’s coming.”

Mrs Pickering said her family was extremely grateful for the efforts of Mr Street in coming to warn them, and the firefighters for containing the blaze around their home.

“They’ve sacrificed so much; I can’t thank them enough,” she said.

Many residents around the fire zone evacuated their homes over the weekend.

Amy Cagney and her young sons Jude and Harry were among them, leaving their South Cessnock home around 2pm Saturday.

“We decided to get out before it got even closer,” Mrs Cagney said.

“The ash and smoke was unbelievable!

“I've never been so scared.

“I was driving away looking in the rear view mirror thinking, it's just like out of the movie Dante’s Peak when the volcano erupted.

“Thank you to all the firefighters risking your lives to save our homes and property.”

BY PERRY DUFFIN

6 Nov 2016, 5:43 p.m.

It was a nightmare of a weekend for the Hunter’s firefighters as multiple blazes threatened homes across the region.

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.

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.