Easing weather conditions overnight have allowed firefighters to gain the upperhand on a fire that raged out of control, even jumping to emergency warning level, in Belmont on Thursday evening.
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More than 79 hectares of land within the Belmont Wetlands near Merleview Street has been consumed by the fire which firefighters, lead by the Rural Fire Service, brought under control on Friday.
Firefighters were undertaking backburning behind homes on Goulding Avenue and Railway Crescent in the early hours of Friday to contain the fire, and had planned to continue east towards Fernleigh Track.
The Fernleigh Track between Belmont TAFE and Kalaroo Road at Redhead has been closed due to the fire activity. The track will be closed until early next week, Lake Macquarie City Council said.
"Council crews will need to clear trees and debris, once advised by emergency services that it is safe to do so," the council said.
The bushfire broke out in windy conditions at the end of Merleview Street, with Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews responding on Thursday evening.
The fire was upgraded to emergency warning status - the highest level on the bushfire alert system - just after 7pm.
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In an update posted to social media 7.17pm on Thursday, RFS said fires were "uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast-moving" in conditions such of those being experienced at Lake Macquarie.
The fire was downgraded to watch and act level just after 9pm when winds dropped to about 35km/h across the fireground.
On Friday afternoon, the fire was at advice level.
However, the RFS have urged residents in the area to remain vigilant.
"Property owners in Goulding Avenue, Railway Crescent, Kalaroo Road, John Darling Avenue, John Fisher Road and Siloam Drive should monitor the situation closely, the NSW Rural Fire Service advises," the RFS said.
For the most up-to-date fire information, go to the Fires Near Me website or download the app.