A thick, choking blanket of smoke is currently covering residents in Oxley Vale as emergency services fight to control a grass fire.
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NSW Fire and Rescue are currently on scene at the Orley Vale location fighting the blaze, and have called in assistance from Rural Fire Service crews.
Superintendent Allyn Purkiss of RFS says they've sent four tankers to the scene already, and were preparing to deploy more if necessary.
Resident Olga Bricis said she was watching TV when she smelled the smoke.
"I smelt something and went to look out the back, because it definitely wasn't a barbeque smell," she told the Leader.
As she saw the smoke plumes around 4pm, just as emergency services screamed in.
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Police barricades are currently in place stopping people from travelling to the end of Orley Drive.
As of 6pm, half a hectare had burnt, with crews remaining to monitor the area.
There is currently a total fire ban in the Tamworth area, due tot he hot, windy conditions.
More to come.
