IT COULD be the worst fire they have ever faced.
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The conditions have been predicted to be horrific.
But the 40-strong force of Orana firies will take positions on the Blue Mountains fire front today.
They are there to help wherever they are needed... until the end.
The firefighters are part of one of the largest mobilisations of fire trucks and officers in the history of Fire and Rescue NSW.
Fire teams, including 12 officers from Dubbo, assembled at Wellington yesterday afternoon and travelled to Bathurst in a convoy, where they were due to stay overnight and get ready to depart for the Blue Mountains at 5am on Wednesday.
RAW VISION: Fire crews from Dubbo were part of the team to depart Bathurst on Wednesday morning.
They were part of an expected force of 170 fire tankers and 800 officers called from across NSW and interstate to back up exhausted crews from the Blue Mountains and Sydney, who are battling several fires, including the State Mine Fire which is still threatening the township of Bell.
Predicted forecasts indicate that today could lead to increased fire activity and to more homes coming under threat.
Regional West 1 duty commander Gary Barber said the brigades and officers were happy to lend a hand to their Eastern neighbours.
"Wednesday and Thursday are tipped to be bad weather days down there, where we could see some horrific conditions so we are going down to do what we can," he said.
"There has been some light rain here [Wellington] but unfortunately there is no sign of any substantial rain down there.
"We have the captain of Brewarrina, a truck from Cobar, a tanker from Lightning Ridge, as well as teams from Dubbo, Wellington and others. They will meet up with other teams from the Upper Hunter and Riverina in Bathurst and they will get down to the Blue Mountains first thing tomorrow [today]."
Regional West 1 zone commander Greg Lewis said brigades often sent crews to lend a hand during bushfires or hail storms in other regions but said this is shaping up to be one of the worst fires they had faced.
"We hope we aren't going to be needed but unfortunately that is looking unlikely," he said.
"With the conditions that are being forecast, we are going in to help wherever we are needed. We expect that will be in the Blue Mountains but it could be anywhere."
Mr Lewis said more officers and equipment could be called up during the coming days if the circumstances don't improve.
"Our organisation is committed for the long haul. The Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner has said that we will be in this until the end," Mr Lewis said.
"This taskforce will go down for a couple of days and if needed, we will send down another one after that.
"We would love to think that we will go down and not be needed but unfortunately that looks unlikely."
