Firefighting efforts to control the enormous Duck Creek Pilliga Forest blaze received welcome rainfall on Tuesday night, prompting authorities to downgrade the situation to advice level.
Thunderstorms moved across the fireground, initially causing some erratic fire behaviour and lightning strikes.
Rain fell across most of the fireground with reports of heavy falls in the north and the east.
On Wednesday, crews were identifying containment lines and using the more favourable weather to bring the fire under control.
“Crews are extinguishing the fire as it exits the Pilliga Forest and enters farmland,” an update from the RFS on Wednesday said.
“The Newell Highway does remain closed between Narrabri and Coonabarabran, however, firefighters will concentrate efforts this morning to ensure the road is safe so that it can ben opened to traffic as soon as possible.”
Smoke from this fire had settled across a broad area, from Coonamble to the west and Tamworth to the east of the fire, and as far south as Dubbo.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Wednesday smoke had also impacted the city.
While the threat to property had eased following the change in weather conditions coupled with the mammoth firefighting operation, work will continue to contain the blaze.
Crews have been working around the clock in extreme circumstances and overwhelmed by support as the community rallies around emergency services while disaster has struck.
Information about bushfires is available on line at www.rfs.gov.au.
The RFS also advises people to ensure they have the Hazards Near Me app.
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