The fear two fires could merge and create their own weather system is playing havoc with attempts to control raging bushfires.
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The Ebor fire is again threatening to engulf properties - fanned by strong easterly winds - as it inched closer to the 110,000-hectare Carrai East blaze.
Fire crews expect that to occur as early as tomorrow but said the conditions would make the significant firefront nearly impossible to control, with spot fires also expected.
"There is potential for some pretty dangerous fire weather there," RFS public liaison officer Angus McDowall said.
"The heat generated from those two fires .... there is the potential for it to generate its own weather system and we will see highly erratic fire activity."
The 19,186 hectare Ebor fire is threatening the Tanners Road area, which the RFS had doorknocked today.
Crews are urging landholders in the Tanners Road and Point Lookout areas to Wollomombi to be on alert and ready to leave if needed, because their properties could come under ember attack and be blanketed in smokey haze.
Mr McDowall said there were unconfirmed reports of shed losses overnight on Tuesday as the fire spiralled out of control. There were also reports of a loss of phone reception due to power outages, but the RFS was assured signals would return today, as crews work with back-up generators.
The RFS said it was continuing to use two-way radios, so its communications were not affected.
It is also continuing to doorknock residents, dedicated officers remaining on the ground to speak with locals during the emergency.
Fire assessors, who are tallying the losses, can't get onto the fireground while the threat still rages.
Strong winds will coat Armidale, and other towns like Guyra and Uralla, in smoke in the coming days until a significant change moves through.
Mr McDowall said the local volunteers were fatigued after months of relentless firefighting.
"Unfortunately it's taken a significant toll, particularly for local crews in that area ... they played a pretty significant role in the Bees Nest fire," he said.
"Here we are again, dealing with another fire impacting the area.
"It been a pretty tumultuous time for them ... they've had to try and manage their own drought conditions and stock issues."
Significant numbers of resources from across NSW and interstate have been deployed to attack the fire.
There were more than 100 firefighters on the fireground today. They backed up crews who stood guard last night and were set to return for the graveyard shift tonight.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
