Elkhorn Trail fire burns 90 hectares, contained by Hastings firefighters after a 15 hour battle

Alongside them will be NSW Police who are currently investigating the cause of the 90 hectare blaze – a car on fire in bushland on the eastern side of Ocean Drive one kilometre south of Elkhorn Grove Estate.

Day one of the new year will reveal the extent of blaze which started at 4.20am on December 31 just south of homes bordering the Port Macquarie Golf Course on Ocean Drive.

Ocean Drive is now open to traffic.

Mid Coast RFS district officer Stuart Robb praised everyone involved for their efforts in protecting homes and lives in extremely challenging conditions.

“We had 70 to 80 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW, the Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife on the ground in 17 appliances (trucks) and four aircraft supporting them,” Mr Robb said.

“They did a great job in containing the fire, working together and preventing it from spreading south to Lake Cathie which was a very good outcome.”

Strong north-easterly winds and extremely dry conditions combined to fuel the blaze which increased in intensity by mid-morning on Monday before ripping a path rapidly south toward Lake Cathie.

Read more: How the Elkhorn Trail fire unfolded

Residents of the nearby residential estate were on high alert for much of Monday, monitoring the conditions and taking advice from fire crews at the scene. Many were prepared to leave if the fire took a turn toward their homes.

Police evacuated the southern end of Lighthouse Beach as the fire intensified, closing it for the remainder of the day while Ocean Drive was shut down to all traffic with the fire lapping the edge of the road and an increased risk of falling trees.

Rural Fire Service crews from across the Hastings united to battle the blaze with the assistance of 11 units from Fire and Rescue NSW.

It was until aerial waterbombing aircraft were commissioned to start swooping the coastline that the extent of the fire and its ferocity was realised.

Hercules Large Air Tanker (LAT) planes with bird dog support aircraft from the RAAF base in Richmond were sent to assist waterbombing efforts.

The aircraft can carry more than 15,000 litres of fire retardant to drop strategically over fire grounds as the frontline response continues.

The fire did jump the road in several locations igniting spot fires on the western side of the road and into Christmas Bells Plains.

Crews quickly averted the spread of the blaze into a larger and more dense area of coastal heath.

“Today (Tuesday) we will continue to mop up and secure containment lines to the south. With the favourable conditions this morning, cloud cover and lower temperatures it will give us a window to stay on top of things,” Mr Robb added.

“We will concentrate on the southern edge to make sure it is locked in before the winds pick up again.”

Residents and visitors should continue to monitor conditions using the Fires Near Me App or online at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me.