Dozens of properties, a large part of the Warrumbungle National Park and most of the Siding Springs Observatory have all been consumed in the fire's path leading to the evacuation of more than 100 people.

Yesterday NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said 28 properties had been destroyed by the 89 kilometre  fire front along with 40 sheds and extensive livestock, fence and machinery losses also in the area. 

Weather conditions on Sunday saw the fire surge on 80km/h winds, blow embers five kilometres, develop a smoke plume 14 kilometres high and spread quickly through the Warrumbungle National Park and nearby properties.

The fire, which started near Wambelong Camping Area, was burning in a northerly direction on Monday morning away from Timor Road and the Siding Spring Observatory and was approximately one kilometre south of Bugaldie.

A NSW RFS spokesman said that experts were inspecting properties in the area destroyed by the fire.

“At this stage we can confirm 12 properties have been lost in Timor Road and we expect it to rise,” he said.

By the afternoon the number of properties confirmed to have been destroyed by the fire had more than doubled.

About 120 people had been evacuated to Baradine 40 minutes north of Coonabarabran at Tattersall’s Hotel.

The hotel is now set up as an evacuation centre.

A number of welfare agencies were on hand to help those affected by the evacuation, a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesman said.

“It is also important that people let family and friends know where they are,” he said. 

Despite the devastation of the fire no lives have been lost and the main telescope of Siding Springs Observatory was saved.

A team of RFS firefighters yesterday began to survey the impact of the bushfire on properties while staff from the Department of Primary Industries inspected charred paddocks to assess the toll the fire had on livestock.

Currently there are more than 56 firefighters, including staff and volunteers from the RFS Orana Team, fighting the blaze with more  expected to arrive along with heavy  machinery to create containment lines.

An RFS Orana task force of 16 crew and four tankers had been sent to help bring the fire under control on Sunday afternoon, NSW RFS Orana team manager Superintendent Lyndon Wieland said.

“They are still up there. They will be there as required,” he said.

There are 10 aircraft water bombing and mapping the progress of the fire as it continues to burn.

Yesterday morning the alert level of the fire was Watch and Act as the blaze was still uncontained with road closures on the Coonabarabran Road (locally known as the Baradine Road) and Timor Road (also known as John Renshaw Parkway).

Residents north of Bugaldie were encouraged by the RFS to head towards Baradine if the path was clear while people south of Yearinan have been told to travel towards Coonabarabran.

A relocation centre was established for people from the Timor Road and Siding Springs area at the Coonabaraban Bowling Club.