Emergency fire warning issued for residents near Mudgee, NSW

A dire emergency fire warning is in place in NSW central west, with residents warned it is too late to leave their homes.

An emergency warning has been issued for a grass fire with residents being told it is now too late to leave their homes.

Locals of Home Rule, NSW, were advised at 2pm on Monday to take shelter in a solid structure, such as a house and to close all windows and doors in an effort to protect themselves against the blaze.

Multiple units from the Rural Fire Service are struggling with erratic winds which are making efforts to control the fire difficult, the NSW RFS said.

Local residents were warned it was too late to leave their homes as the fire raged on Monday afternoon. Picture: Facebook/Shaley Nash

EMERGENCY WARNING - Henry Lawson Dr Fire, Home Rule (Mid-Western LGA)
A grass fire is burning near Henry Lawson Dr & Drews Lane burning south to Lowes Peak. If in Brewers Ln, St Fillians Rd, Saints Ln, Lowes Peak Rd & Henry Lawson Dr. It is too late to leave Seek shelter now. pic.twitter.com/PIzJAb47m8

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 2, 2023

The highly variable conditions are also making it difficult to predict where the fire might go next.

The shelter in place message is in place for residents along Henry Lawson Dr, Brewers Lane, St Fillians Rd and Saints Lane.

Anyone local to those streets is being warned to stay in a room on the other side of their house from the approaching final.

The warning is in place for a fire raging near Mudgee, NSW. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service

Nearby Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm confirmed they had closed their doors for the rest of the day due to the fire risk.

Updates are available on the RFS website rfs.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1800 679 737

Home Rule is about 25km north of Mudgee in the Central West region of New South Wales.

The dire warning comes hot on the heels of a shocking weather weekend for New South Wales, with an alert on Sunday evening saying there were 85 fires still active across the state.

The Australian east coast has been blasted with hot weather recently, well ahead of the peak summer season.

Further information about the Home Rule fire can be found on the RFS website.