HUNTER firefighters are hoping their luck holds on Saturday evening after their rigorous preparations helped hold back blazes amid scorching weather.
The danger is far from over but crews are cautiously optimistic about the day so far as temperatures begin to drop into the evening.
Crews had been deployed in "strike teams" across the region in a bid to step on fires as they emerged or swelled, a step
NSW Rural Fire Service operational officer Leanne Bell said that the conditions had definitely led to flaring fires throughout the day but that the efforts of volunteers had managed to keep them at bay so far.
New fires had been reported at North Wyee Train Station near Morisset, Wilton Road at Awaba and Thompsons Road at Milbrodale.
None of the Hunter fires had surpassed the advice warning level, the lowest on the RFS' scale, by 4pm Saturday despite the conditions and continued challenge for fire crews.
"The fire activity has definitely increased," Ms Bell said about 4pm on Saturday.
"There was a report of a spot fire on Thompsons Road, but crews were two minutes away.
The enormous Gospers Mountain fire in Wollemi National Park, which has burned more than 510,000 hectares, was classified at Watch and Act level on Saturday afternoon.
"The Mount Royal fire has increased but that's in really remote country and there's not a lot we can do about that," she said.
Temperatures were beginning to drop but Ms Bell said crews would remain vigilant into the evening.
A southerly change is expected about 2am on Sunday.
"We are just going to stick it out I suppose, anything can happen still."
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