Macleay community updated on current situation of the Carrai East fire

NSW RFS public liaison officer Dave Nicholson ran the meeting, giving residents current information about the firefighting efforts on the fire ground.

Mr Nicholson said the excess smoke in the air is due to RFS crews actively back burning to bring the blaze under control.

"Due to the back burning efforts by firefighters, there is still a lot of smoke hanging around and could cause some health issues for some people," he said.

Winds are predicted in the area this afternoon which, Mr Nicholson said, will aid firefighters on the ground.

"There will be westerly winds as well as north-easterly winds, they will be in both directions today and will be around 30 kilometres an hour.

"When these two winds meet up they're going to cancel each other out which will work in our favour."

Crews are making use of the easing weather conditions to actively fight the fire and bring it under control before weather conditions worsen.

"We have good conditions at the fire ground today and out of area strike teams helping assist local crews. Unfortunately we're not getting any air support because of the smokey conditions and poor visibility.

"Hopefully once the winds pick up, it should blow the smoke away and allow us to get aircraft up in the air."

RFS are working to get the Carrai East fire under control before Sunday when a thunderstorm is predicted for the area.

"We still have very dry conditions and temperatures are starting to rise again, we are experiencing the same sort of conditions we had on Tuesday and last Friday over the next few days," Mr Nicholson said.

"A thunderstorm is also predicted for Sunday which could create difficult conditions if there is not enough rain and strong winds.

"We are throwing everything we have at this fire to bring it under control."

Kempsey Shire Council's director of operations Robert Fish also addressed the community about the current road closures and Essential Energy work.

"Council staff have been out assessing the roads and have been conducting works through the fire ground, with crews working west of Bellbrook to remove trees from the road," he said.

"We are hoping the road to Bellbrook will be open later this afternoon."

Mr Fish also revealed around 600 properties have been without power in the Bellbrook and Willawarrin area.

"Essential Energy crews are out there now trying to restore power to Bellbrook. We urge residents who are returning home to be careful around power lines and fallen trees."

The RFS will hold public update meetings every day at 10am and 6pm at the Kempsey Showground. Locals are able to attend and ask any questions they are concerned about.

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