The fire began on Saturday (October 27) afternoon after a thunderstorm with lightning rolled across the area and burned in bushland reserve fronting Crestwood Estate in Port Macquarie.

Vigilant helicopter waterbombing efforts all day ensured crews were able to stay on top of the fire and keep it well away from homes.

While the Crestwood fire now threatens the Lake Cathie community locals at the expanding Crestwood estate are grateful for the calm, professionalism of the RFS volunteers.

READ: Lake Cathie fire: rolling coverage

"Everyone panicked a little bit," said Mrs Hayes.

"All we could see is smoke and there were helicopters flying over."

But RFS volunteers assured residents everything was under control.

"They were fantastic, their communication was great and we all felt safe," said Mr Hayes.

Hundreds of people congregated on Crestwood Drive to get a glimpse of the spectacular inferno.

For residents of Crestwood, it wasn't the fire that was so much the problem but concerns over congestion.

"The road was just congested, if something more serious had happened it might have been dangerous," said Mr Hayes.

There is only one entry/exit into Crestwood Estate which has rapidly expanded over the last couple of years.

The estate's only exit is via a roundabout on Ocean Drive near Lighthouse Beach.

Even before the fire residents raised concerns about congestion and the potential for danger in the situation of an emergency.

"Originally there was an exit from Yaluma Drive but council closed that in 1998," long-term Crestwood Drive resident David Irving said said.

"At that point in time they said the roundabout would cater for all the cars.

"Well it doesn't and it's as simple as that.

"Even if we could just get a one-way turn out onto Ocean Drive that would stop the cars becoming stuck here."

Mr Irving presented a petition to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council with almost 200 signatures earlier this year.

Council has not been receptive to the push but the bushfire over the weekend has renewed calls for something to be done.

"There was a large number of people who had simply come to have a look at the fire, at what was happening and the congestion was quite heavy, particularly on Sunday," Mr Irving said.

"Because of the quick response of the RFS there wasn't any loss of property but it definitely demonstrated in the event there was a requirement to evacuate the estate the traffic would have been quite difficult to navigate."

Bev Horsley who lives opposite the bushland reserve on Crestwood Drive agrees.

"I think access is a concern for everyone really," she said.

But like other residents in the area she remains eternally grateful to the RFS and National Parks and Wildlife.

"We feel quite relieved with a big summer coming up they have actually lessened the rubbish on the ground floor on the forest," she said.

"The forest will regenerate.

"It hopefully won't burn again."

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