HOT, windy, dry conditions have been fuelling the flames of a bushfire in the Goonoo Forest, and the blaze is yet to be brought under control.
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The fire broke out around 9am on Tuesday and by 5pm it had scorched 264 hectares of bushland off Samuels Trail in the forest, which is located 30 kilometres north-east of Dubbo.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters from across the Orana zone and as far away as Sydney rushed to douse the flames in the drought-stricken country.
By mid afternoon the out-of-control bushfire was travelling towards Mendooran Road and spotting across the roadway was igniting new fires.
During the day wind gusts of up to 26km/h were recorded at Dubbo Airport, while the temperature reached 30 degrees, Bureau of Meteorology data shows.
Up to 13 fire trucks were called to the blaze, along with dozens of firefighters and the NSW RFS' large air tanker was deployed from Richmond to help fight the fire from above.
Dubbo Regional Council's bulk water tanker was also brought in to help crews refill the fire trucks.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Orana RFS district services co-ordinator Mark Pickford told the Daily Liberal that the fire remained out-of-control.
"It's burning in a north-easterly direction up the Mendooran Road and we're fighting to keep it west of Mendooran Road," he said.
"It's burning right in the middle of the national park."
A NSW RFS spokesman said while the bushfire put up a lot of smoke, that was visible from a distance away, the blaze was not threatening any properties.
People in the region have been praised for their quick response to messages from the RFS and for seeking information on fires burning such tinder-dry conditions.
It's burning right in the middle of the national park.
- NSW Rural Fire Service Orana zone district services co-ordinator Mark Pickford
The Mendooran Road remained closed at Brockelhurst and Mendooran. The Mogriguy Forest Road and Old Mendooran Roads were also closed.
The Golden Highway and Newell Highway remained open.
The bushfire is currently listed at 'advice' alert level with people in the region urged stay up-to-date at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
At this stage the cause of the bushfire is undetermined.
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