Emergency services are imploring Hunter residents to "take care" as another day of hot weather is expected to settle on the region on Saturday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has increased the fire danger rating to "severe" in the Hunter for Saturday, from the "very high" issued on Friday.
The NSW Rural Fire Service will maintain a total fire ban across the region.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Stephen Stefenac said residents could expect similar temperatures to Friday on Saturday. He said the mercury was set to peak in the mid-thirties across the Hunter between 3 and 4pm.
"The wind is going to be stronger and the air is going to be drier," he said.
A cool change is expected on Saturday evening with temperatures to remain in the low to mid-twenties on Sunday.
"The change is likely to come to coastal and southern areas of the Hunter first, at around 5pm, and should be going through the northern parts by 7pm," he said.
Newcastle paramedics are reminding residents to check on young children, people over the age of 75 and those working outside, after ambulance crews responded to three children left in a car in Glendale on Friday afternoon.
They also responded to a 70-year-old man who developed heat stress while playing bowls in Kahibah.
None of the patients required hospitalisation.
"During these hot conditions, it is important to remember that our bodies have to work extra hard to cope or cool down," Inspector Luke Wiseman, Newcastle duty operation manager for NSW Ambulance said.
Mr Wiseman encouraged people to drink plenty of water, wear cool clothes, minimise physical activity, make sure others had access to water and to call paramedics if feeling unwell.
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