Fires Near Me: Watson's Creek, Dungowan and Blackwater blazes continue to burn

The smell of bushfire has been carried by the wind from one blaze at Dungowan and another at Watson's Creek.

The blaze at Trough Gully Road in Dungowan was started by a lightning strike last Wednesday and Rural Fire Service volunteers have tried to contain the fire in the days since.

A containment line has been established by a dozer around the fire, Tamworth RFS superintendent Allyn Purkiss said.

"A lot of burning needs to be done on the edges to get it contained with backburns and tidy those lines," he said.

"Crews have a lot of backburning to do in the next few days, that one is between 50 and 80 hectares.

"There's still a lot of work there and a lot of fuel to be burnt out."

Members of the public have made numerous reports about the fire from Manilla, Bendemeer, Tamworth and Attunga given the widespread nature of the smoke.

A fire at Watson's Creek is burning in national park about an hour-and-a-half from Tamworth.

It's being tackled by crews with two airplanes, a dozen trucks and a dozer.

Properties east of the fire could come under threat so volunteers have worked to prepare and protect them from fire should the wind change.

"It's putting up a lot of smoke and because of it's height, that can be seen from a long way in Tamworth," Mr Purkiss said.

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"The fire isn't contained but a number of crews are up there doing their darndest to bring it under control."

Closer to Guyra the Backwater blaze has since crossed Mount Mitchell Road and is burning on the northern side of Pinkett Road in a north-easterly direction.

It's also burning west in the Mount Nobbler area, property owners should monitor conditions.

The immediate threat to properties eased on Monday, but residents should monitor the situation and enact their Bush Fire Survival plan if needed. Those without a plan should leave early.

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