DOZENS of firefighters were backed by a water bombing aircraft as they fought an out-of-control blaze tearing through grassland near Tamworth on Wednesday afternoon.
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The grassfire erupted at Red Hill, on the outskirts of Barraba, just after 2pm and emergency services were still battling the fire last night.
A spokesperson from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the Leader crews were prepared to move if the fire threatened nearby homes and sheds.
"Crews are setting up for property protection at isolated properties, if required," the spokesperson said.
The RFS spokesperson said the blaze had burned almost 170 hectares in less than three hours, about 50km north west of Tamworth.
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The blaze, which the Leader was told was burning on three fronts at one stage, jumped Manilla Road.
Police had a roadblock set up on Fossickers Way as thick smoke billowed from the grassfire and affected visibility for drivers.
The grassfire was mainly burning on the eastern side of the road and spreading to the north while firefighters tried to contain it to the south.
Several triple zero calls were made and multiple RFS tankers were urgently tasked to the scene, as well as Fire and Rescue NSW crews from nearby stations.
A water bombing aircraft made several runs in a bid to douse flames from above while on-the-ground firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
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