A TOTAL fire ban has been issued for the North West and Northern Slopes areas as scorching temperatures and winds persist on Wednesday.
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The RFS issued the 24-hour bans, with the areas, including Tamworth and Gunnedah, as well as the New England experiencing very high fire danger ratings on Wednesday.
The RFS said as part of the total fire ban, no fire may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended.
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The service said incinerators and barbecues (BBQ) which burn solid fuel, e.g. wood, charcoal or heat beads are also banned and no general purpose welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting can be done in the open.
Meanwhile, a watch-and-act emergency warning was downgraded to advice late Tuesday afternoon for a bushfire burning in the Wallangarra area, north of Tenterfield.
The fire has burnt more than 43800 hectares and is being controlled.
On Tuesday afternoon, the fire was continuing to burn west of the Bruxner Highway in the Girraween, Bald Rock, Boonoo area.
There has been an increase of fire activity across the fireground, especially in the south east corner of the fire near Mount Lindsey Road and Black Swamp Road, the RFS said.
Most activity has been on the south western side of the fireground near Sunnyside, on the north western side of the fire in the Girraween National Park (Queensland), north of Wallangarra and on the south eastern side near the Bruxner Highway.
The RFS said on Monday night crews undertook backburning operations which saw an increase in fire activity and smoke produced.
On Tuesday, the RFS as well as firefighters from Forestry Corp and NPWS were continuing to work on the fireground in a bid to bring the fire under control.
