THE Crestwood-Lake Innes fire is now 700 hectares in size and being controlled.
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Waterbombing activity well into the evening yesterday (October 28) got a hold of the blaze which has ripped through a significant area of Lakes Innes Nature reserve since Saturday.
It is believed the fire started as a result of a lightning strike.
On Monday afternoon it spotted across Lake Innes and was burning in the vicinity of Lake Innes Drive. Crews were on scene overnight working to extinguish the spot fire.
The fire also continues to burn on the eastern side of the lake, south of the Brierley Hills community.
Waterbombing activities involving helicopters, small Fireboss aircraft and the Large Air Tanker will continue today.
Ocean Drive closed
Ocean Drive is now closed (October 29) for safety reasons due to smoke across the road.
Traffic control is still in place, and it is unclear as to when and for how long the closures will be.
Motorists are advised to use Houston Mitchell Drive and the Pacific Highway to access Port Macquarie if travelling from the south.
RFS is conducting backburning along Ocean Drive.
Traffic control is in place whilst these burns are undertaken, as firefighters will be working on the edge of the road.
Please exercise extreme caution and expect delays.
Residents are also being asked to keep the streets around fire zone areas clear to allow safe entry and exit for fire crews.
Residents in the Ocean Drive area will notice an increase in smoke and fire activity as these burns are undertaken.
Mid North Coast fires update
HARRINGTON-CROWDY HEAD: To the south of the Hastings, a fire at Bills Crossing in the Crowdy Bay National Park was elevated to emergency alert last night (Monday). The fire is out of control and has burned across 1049 hectares.
Residents at Harrington were told overnight to be prepared for evacuation while RFS crews worked to protect homes in the vicinity of Harrington Waters.
The fire continues to burn on the northern side of Harrington Road in an easterly direction towards the Industrial Estate. Some embers have started spot fires on the southern side of Harrington Rd near the caravan park.
The threat has been reduced to Watch and Act this morning (Tuesday).
Air quality health alert
The North Coast Public Health Unit is advising Port Macquarie residents to take health precautions while smoke from the weekend's Crestwood bushfire continues to affect local air quality.
Fine smoke particles affect the human respiratory system and can aggravate existing chronic health conditions by penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the blood system.
Director of the North Coast Public Health Unit, Paul Corben, said the particles can cause various health problems such as itchy or burning eyes, throat and nose irritation and illnesses such as bronchitis.
"We urge people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions to be aware of the health effects of exposure to bushfire smoke and to take steps to protect their health," Mr Corben said.
To stay up to date visit rfs.nsw.gov.au or use the Fires Near Me app.