Several bushfires on the NSW mid-north coast might have been deliberately lit and police are appealing to the public to help find the culprits.
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A fire that started last Tuesday at Belmore River, about 15km east of Kempsey, burnt through nearly 3000ha of bushland in the Hat Head National Park before being brought under control.
Police, including arson unit officers, are investigating after the fire was deemed to be suspicious.
Detectives are keen to speak with the driver of a white Nissan Patrol ute with a broken tail light that was seen in the area about 3pm that day.
Police are also investigating if the fire has any links to blazes that occurred on the same day at Lighthouse Road at Arakoon and Maria River Road and Crescent Head Road at Crescent Head.
Detective Inspector Peter O'Reilly said the situation was "incredibly dangerous" and warned that anyone found guilty of deliberately lighting a bushfire could face more than 20 years' prison.
"These people lighting these fires are posing a significant threat to the lives and property of people in our community," he told reporters.
Early on Tuesday afternoon, there were 62 bush and grass fires burning across the state, eight of which were out of control.
An alert was issued for a bushfire burning on the northeastern outskirts of Cessnock, in the Hunter region, which was running out of control.
The NSW Rural Fire Service said the fire was burning south towards Old Maitland Road and people in that area should prepare to act.
A bushfire in northern NSW that sparked an emergency evacuation order on Monday was still burning out of control on Tuesday morning after torching 1615ha, but it was no longer threatening homes.
People living in Nymboida, about 30km southwest of Grafton, were previously warned to seek shelter as the blaze barrelled towards properties.
The majority of the state is experiencing high fire danger with temperatures predicted to soar into the 30s in many areas on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said Wednesday was the day of most concern.
"We have a broad area of extreme fire danger for northern NSW," he said.
"Watch out for fire weather warnings there and possible total fire bans."
Grafton in the Northern Rivers region is expected to hit 40C on Wednesday.
"I don't know if we've had many 40C temperatures in NSW this side of winter," Mr Hines said.
"This is certainly one of the first. It will be very, very warm there."
A 13-year-old girl was charged on Tuesday with deliberately lighting fires around a community centre in Tamworth.
Emergency services responded to 18 calls about fires around the facility on Quinn Street on Monday afternoon.
Australian Associated Press
