The immediate threat to homes has now passed at all three fire grounds in the Hunter, with night-fall bringing easing winds and cooler temperatures. 

With temperatures in the high twenties and gusty winds predicted tomorrow, crews will work through the night to establish containment lines through extensive back-burning operations. 

Here is the situation as it stands: 

-The Heddon Greta fire has been downgraded to Advice level and crews are on the ground mopping up. The cause of the fire – which broke out late in the afternoon – will be the subject of an investigation. 

-The fire north of Raymond Terrace is at Watch and Act level. The village of Limeburners Creek appears to have escaped relatively unscathed thanks to the efforts of firefighters who were able to halt the advance of a massive fire front. Limeburners Creek Road and the Bucketts Way are expected to remain closed for some time but the Pacific Highway has reopened. 

-Crews are taking advantage of easing conditions to carry out backburning on the western edge of the Cessnock fire to try and get containment. An impact assessment will be carried out tomorrow, if safe, to determine if any homes have been lost or damaged. 

The Rural Fire Service was not aware of any injuries or loss of human life on Saturday evening. 

It’s over and out for the Herald’s live blog, but our coverage will continue online from tomorrow morning and in Monday’s print edition. 

7:50pm: Port Stephens fire downgraded to Watch and Act

The situation in the Hunter finally appears to be easing, with the second fire north of Raymond Terrace also downgraded to Watch and Act. 

Earlier this evening the fire appeared to be on a collision course with the village of Limeburners Creek, however crews managed to slow its advance under cooler conditions. 

The blaze is continuing to burn in the area around Bucketts Way. Firefighters will continue to work on the fire overnight and across Sunday.

The Pacific Highway has now reopened in both directions but North Medowie Road remains closed. 

7:40pm: Cessnock blaze downgraded to Watch and Act

Firefighters have again managed to contain the Racecourse Road blaze near Cessnock, and the immediate threat to homes has eased.

Firefighters are working in streets around the bushland to protect homes including around Vincent Street and Jeffries Street at Cessnock, Cessnock Street at Aberdare, and in North Kitchener.

Avoid using roads including Lake Road, Kearsley Road and Abernethy Street.

Residents should continue to monitor conditions throughout the evening. 

7:30pm:

A dusky sky line across the Hunter as the sun set this evening. The smoke haze can still be seen across the entire city. 

This shot was taken by Herald columnist Paul Scott. 

6:55pm:

An image of the fire at Heddon Greta from Natalee Snaddon.

6:40pm:

Some good news for drivers – the Pacific Highway near the Weigh Station has reopened in both directions. 

6:30pm:

Some more details in the situation in Cessnock from the Rural Fire Service: 

The fire is burning in the area between Aberdare, Kearsley, Kitchener and Abernethy.

The fire has flared up and is close to homes.

Firefighters are working in streets around the bushland to protect homes including around Vincent Street and Jeffries Street at Cessnock, Cessnock Street at Aberdare, and in North Kitchener.

Avoid using roads including Lake Road, Kearsley Road and Abernethy Street.

If the fire impacts on your property, seek shelter to protect yourself from the heat of the heat of the fire.

6:15pm: Cessnock fire returns to emergency warning level 

Crews battling the Racecourse Road fire are on the back foot again, with the fire escaping containment lines and making a run this evening. 

It has now returned to emergency warning status with an imminent threat to properties around Kitchener, Abernathy and Kearsley. Residents are being sent telephone warnings, telling them to take shelter.  

The blaze has already impacted on a number of streets but the Rural Fire Service could not confirm if there were any property losses at this stage. 

A fire north of Raymond Terrace is also at emergency warning level as it burns towards Limeburners Creek. Residents in that area should shelter in place as they wait for the fire front to pass. 

Additional resources are being sent to both fire grounds as crews bunker down for a long night ahead. 

“It hasn't cooled down significantly and the humidity hasn't increased as much as you would hope to at this time of the day,” a spokesperson said. 

“Conditions are still tough and the firefighters are working extremely hard to get containment on these fires.” 

A watch and act has also been issued for people around Heddon Greta after earlier reports of spot fires there this evening. 

6pm: Fires burn out of control across New South Wales. 

Evening round-up of the situation as it stands around the state from the Rural Fire Service.

5:45pm

Some extraordinary photos have come in from Tim Mitchell, father of Fairfax journalist Georgina Mitchell. 

Some background to the shots: 

“My dad was on Mayfield Street in Cessnock when the fire broke out and he walked down to Aberdare Road around 3.30pm to get some snaps,” Georgina said. 

“He got one of flames at the back of the cricket oval on Aberdare Road. Apparently a cricket match was happening on there but they all cleared off as the fire approached. 

“The other snaps are of fire trucks on Aberdare Road, and black smoke on Vincent Street above cars.” 

Flames at the back of the cricket oval on Aberdare Road. 

The view from Vincent Street. 

A fire truck on Aberdare Road. 

5:30PM

Finally some good news from the fire ground at Cessnock, where crews are gaining the upper hand and the fire has been downgraded to Watch and Act. 

However the damage toll is unclear, with confirmation the fire has impacted on streets and homes around Vincent Street at Cessnock and Cessnock Street at Aberdare. 

Firefighters are working to slow the spread of the fire and are starting to gain the upper hand. They will remain on scene throughout the night.

5:15PM: “Do no waiting for a warning before taking action.” 

An emergency warning has been issued for the fire that is burning towards the village of Limeburners Creek, north of Raymond Terrace. 

Emergency alert telephone warning messages are being sent to homes and mobile phones in the area, but people should not wait for a warning before taking action.

The fire is burning in the area of the Pacific Highway and Bucketts Way at Balickera, and the Pacific Highway is expected to remain closed for some time. 

North Medowie Road has also been closed in both directions.

5PM

From the Sydney Morning Herald’s live blog, an update on weather conditions: 

Today's "hot, dry and windy" weather was apt for kindling a fire, says Weatherzone Meteorologist Craig McIntosh.

Maitland Airport, near the fires in Cessnock and Raymond Terrace, recorded wind speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour. Wind speeds have remained around the mid-40 mark after a southwesterly wind change occurred at 2.15pm. Humidity has also remained low.

"The air is really dry because it is being blown off the land," he says. "Sea breezes will increase Sydney's humidity, however that's not the case for the Hunter region." 

Wind speeds, however, should be easing tomorrow by 8-10 kilometres per hour.

4:50PM

Fire and Rescue NSW are on the scene assisting Rural Fire Service crews. 

4:45PM

The fire at Cessnock has now impacted on properties along Racecourse Road and Cessnock Street in Aberdare.

Crews are in the area are trying to save properties. The fire is fast moving, out of control and burning on several fronts.

Residents in the area should leave only if it safe to do so and the path is clear. If they are unable to leave, they should seek shelter as the fire arrives and protect themselves from the heat of the fire.  

4:38PM

Sorry Damien Leith fans – tonight’s gig has been cancelled. 

4:20PM

Residents in the path of the Lone Pine fire, burning towards The Bucketts Way north of Raymond Terrace, are being warned not to leave their properties by the Rural Fire Service.

If you are in the area of The Bucketts Way, between the Pacific Highway and Limeburners Creek Road, it is now too late to leave your property. Take shelter as the fire front arrives and follow direction from firefighters in the area.

The Pacific Highway has been closed in both directions near the Weigh Station, north off Raymond terrace and will likely be closed for some time.

North Medowie Road has also been closed in both directions.

4:15PM

A picture from Herald reader Darren Oliver. The end of Vincent Street at Cessnock. 

And from @OhHeyItsGrace on Twitter. 

4PM:

More than 200 firefighters are now battling two out of control bushfires across Port Stephens and Cessnock. 

The elements are not on their side, with dry, gusty winds and temperatures still in the high twenties. 

“Winds are predicted to die down but we haven’t seen that take effect,” a Rural Fire Service spokesperson told the Newcastle Herald. 

“We are still seeing erratic conditions on the fireground.” 

The fire at Cessnock is currently burning towards Kearsley and Kitchener with an impact time estimated of one-and-a-half hours. 

Firefighters in that region are being assisted by a large air tanker and a very large air tanker as well as out-of-area resources. 

At least 50 homes are still under threat and according to the Rural Fire Service while there have been no forced evacuations, a number of people have left their properties voluntarily. 

Crews are undertaking property protection as the fire approaches. 

“A strategy is being drawn up to try and get containment, but it is a very fluid and dynamic situation,” a spokesperson said. 

At Port Stephens, the Lone Pine fire has jumped the Pacific Highway with the road closed between Karuah and Medowie Road. 

There are a number of isolated rural properties in that area. 

3:45PM:

An update from Cessnock Advertiser reporter Krystal Sellars:

 An out-of-control bushfire has burned through 180 hectares of bushland around South Cessnock on Saturday afternoon.

Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said residents around Racecourse Road, Vincent Street, Evans Street and nearby are being advised to leave if the path is clear, and seek shelter if it is not.

He said firefighters and aircraft are on the scene and are protecting homes as the situation unfolds.

The fire started near in bushland near Cessnock Racecourse around midday on Saturday.

As the wind changed it moved swiftly to South Cessnock, and is now burning towards Aberdare and Kearsley.

Residents in nearby properties, including Bellbird Heights to the west received an emergency warning from the RFS, and some have chosen to evacuate.

3:20PM:

Another update from the Rural Fire Service on the ‘Lone Pine’ fire at Port Stephens:

The fire is burning near the Pacific Highway at Balickera, north of Raymond Terrace.

The fire is burning intensely and is spreading quickly, generating significant amounts of smoke.

The fire is burning towards The Bucketts Way.

There are rural properties in the area.

If you are in the area of The Bucketts Way, between the Pacific Highway and Limeburners Creek Road, if your plan is to leave do so now if the path is clear, heading north up The Bucketts Way on to Limeburners Creek Road and then west towards Clarence Town. If the path is not clear, seek shelter as the fire impacts and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

The Pacific Highway has been closed in both directions near the Weigh Station, north off Raymond terrace and will likely be closed for some time.

Firefighters are on scene.

Aircraft, including the Very Large Air Tanker is being sent to assist firefighters.

Follow the advice of firefighters on the scene. Follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, leaving early is your safest option.

3:05PM: 

Photos contributed by Herald reader Darren Oliver.

Pictures rolling in on social media of the blaze at Cessnock, looking ominous over the township. 

3PM:

Latest advice for residents in Cessnock:

The fire is fast moving, out of control and burning on several fronts.

The fire is burning in the area around Racecourse Road at Cessnock.

The fire is also burning towards the area of Evans Street and Vincent Street. Firefighters are on scene.

If you are in the area of Racecourse Road, Evans Street or Vincent Street, leave now if the path is clear. If the path is not clear, seek shelter as the fire impacts and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

Firefighters and aircraft are on scene and are protecting homes.

Residents in the area should monitor conditions and watch for burning embers.

2:50PM: PACIFIC HIGHWAY CLOSED

The Pacific Highway has now been closed at the weigh station just north of Medowie Road, and at the caravan park to the south, as a result of a large out-of-control bushfire at Port Stephens. 

The Bucketts Way is also closed between the Pacific Highway and Limeburners Creek Road. 

Burning north of Grahamstown Dam, the fire has blackened around 620 hectares and around 100 firefighters are on the scene, with further crews being deployed to the area from the Mid North Coast. 

At this stage all properties either have or are being protected and there is no imminent threat to homes.

However the fire is burning in the vicinity of rural properties, and residents in the area are being urged to stay vigilant and follow their bushfire survival plans. 

2:40pm:  

An update on the situation in Cessnock from the RFS: 

About 50 homes are currently under threat and the fire danger level has just climbed to “extreme”, as the blaze is fanned by winds from the west-south-west, gusting up to 50 kilometres an hour. 

The fire is impacting on Aberdare Road in Aberdare. Crews are currently protecting properties along Aberdare Road and there have been a number of evacuations by police, although details from the scene are scarce at this stage. 

There are currently around 35 firefighters on the ground with a further five crews from the Hunter Valley and Central Coast expected to arrive in the area in the next 10 to 15 minutes. 

 The fire has razed approximately 70 hectares of bushland, virtually doubling in size from earlier today.

2:10PM:

Latest advice from the Rural Fire Service on evacuations at Cessnock: 

A large bush fire is burning in the area around Racecourse Road at Cessnock.

The fire is fast moving and out of control.

If you are in the area of Racecourse Road and surrounding areas leave now if the path is clear. If the path is not clear, seek shelter as the fire impacts and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

Firefighters and aircraft are on scene and are protecting homes.​

2PM: 

An emergency warning has been issued for a  bushfire burning out of control near Racecourse Road at Cessnock. 

The fire has razed about 30 hectares and is generating large amounts of smoke. 

Firefighters from NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire & Rescue are currently on scene protecting homes.

People in homes along Racecourse Road should be aware of burning embers. If you live in the area but are away from home, it may not be safe to return to your property. 

The following advice has been issued to residents: 

-Be aware of burning embers. Put out any spot fires on your property if it is safe to do so.

-Check and follow your bush fire survival plan.

-If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave early.

-Well prepared and actively defended homes can offer safety during the fire.

-If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

A second out of control bushfire is burning near the Pacific Highway at Balickera, north of Grahamstown Dam and Raymond Terrace. 

According to the Rural Fire Service, the fire is burning intensely and is spreading quickly, generating significant amounts of smoke. There are rural properties in the area and firefighters are currently on scene, with a large Air Tanker being sent to assist their efforts. 

The RFS has the following advice for residents: 

-Follow the advice of firefighters on the scene.

-Follow your bush fire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, leaving early is your safest option.

More to come.