FIREFIGHTERS might be getting the upper hand on the Palmers Oaky bushfire, but they still have fears it could join with the massive Gospers Mountain blaze.
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The 16,749 hectare Palmers Oaky blaze is now listed as 'being controlled', but the massive 508,517 hectare Gospers Mountain fire is moving closer.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Cudgegong incident controller Troy Porter said the Gospers fire is burning through the Wolgan Valley and heading north to Glen Davis.
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"We still have concerns the Gospers Mountain fire, which is moving north and parallel along the Castlereagh Highway, might join with the Palmers Oaky fire," he said.
Until then, he said, firefighters would continue to strengthen containment lines around the Palmers Oaky fire, and continue to extinguish hot spots and flare ups.
"There's still plenty of smoke and aircraft around and they'll be there for at least the next week," he said.
Mr Porter said there was no immediate threat to residents in the region.
RFS rural liaison officers are continuing to door-knock residents around the Palmers Oaky fire to provide them with the latest information and maps of the fires.
READ MORE: Tough NSW fire conditions back within days
Very hot weather is predicted to continue until Sunday, with temperatures to reach as high as 42 degrees in this area.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been among the hundreds of firefighters in the area battling the blaze.
On Saturday he visited the Royal Hotel Capertee to collect meals for a strike team of firefighters.
"Great to catch up with local captain Steve Dalli," Mr Abbott posted to social media following the visit.
"The pub food, incidentally, was the best meal I can remember on the fire ground. Visit and check them out."
Stay up-to-date with this fire and others across NSW at Fires Near Me.
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