Hunter Valley Bushfire: Hunter Valley homes at risk, Tony Abbott joins fire fight

A Sydney northern beaches resident thanks Tony Abbott for saving his home from a bushfire.

Houses are under threat from an out-of-control bushfire in the NSW Hunter Valley. Picture: John Grainger

Tony Abbott has been hailed as a hero after saving a house from ember attack while battling a bushfire burning near his Sydney northern beaches electorate of Warringah.

The former prime minister has ditched parliament in Canberra, taking emergency services leave to man water pumps for his local Davidson Rural Fire Brigade, where he has volunteered since 2001.

Tony Abbott has been hailed a hero. Picture: AAP

This afternoon embers from the Beacon Hill bushfire ignited local resident Barry Cafe’s fence.

Mr Cafe told local paper the Manly Daily that it wasn’t every day that a former prime minister saves your home.

“I told everybody, ‘I’m fine, Tony’s here’,” he said.

“He’s a top bloke ... We couldn’t do without them (the Rural Fire Service).”

The fire has burnt through more than 34 hectares at Red Hill Reserve in Beacon Hill since a suspicious fire which started on Monday reignited.

More than 100 firefighters are battling the blaze, including Mr Abbott.

A spokesman for Chief Government Whip Nola Marino confirmed Mr Abbott had been granted a pair in parliament.

Interestingly, Mr Abbott’s leave comes courtesy of a bill he introduced himself as Employment and Workplace Relations Minister in 2003, when he legislated to protect the jobs of emergency services volunteers.

It’s not the first time Mr Abbott has left parliament to fight a fire.

As Prime Minister in 2013 Mr Abbott joined his Davidson crew to battle the horrific Blue Mountains bushfires which claimed the lives of two people, destroyed 500 buildings, and burnt through 118,000 hectares.

#NSWRFS & #FRNSW have almost contained the fire burning @ Beacon Hill. Hours of mopping up/blacking out still before tomorrow's bad weather. pic.twitter.com/8Eq2cKCIny

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) September 12, 2017

Meanwhile, the RFS has issued an emergency warning for the Hunter Valley as a blaze threatens homes in Richmond Vale, outside Cessnock.

The fire broke containment lines and so far 381 hectares of bushland have been burned, a spokesperson for the RFS website said.

Fire has broken out at Richmondvale near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Picture: ABC

The fire jumped the main road into Kurri Kurri, Leggetts Road, just after midday, and fanned by high winds bore down on more homes.

The ‘Thor’ water-bombing aircraft and two helicopters are working with 14 firetrucks and 45 firefighters to contain the blaze.

Footage from #NSWRFS helicopter over fire at Richmond Vale (Cessnock LGA) #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/NASlz8xdlH

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) September 13, 2017

Residents of the rural community of Stanford Merthyr have been told if they plan to evacuate they should do so immediately.

A few kilometres away from the Kurri Kurri blaze another grass fire has broken out near Blackhill and is out of control, according to the RFS. About 20 workers from an industrial business south of Kurri Kurri have reportedly been cut off by the fire.

While emergency services believe the blaze will miss the building, a fire truck is standing by ready to defend the property.

Fire has destroyed a rail carriage at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum near Kurri Kurri. Source: 7NEWS

Total fire bans have been declared across swathes of the state, prompted by hot and windy conditions.

The RFS declared four regions as having a severe fire danger on Wednesday including Greater Sydney Region, Greater Hunter, North Coast and North Western regions.

Temperatures in the mid-30s and strong north-westerly winds are creating challenging conditions for firefighters.

Winds are forecast to reach 40-50km/h with gusts up to 70km/h.

With AAP