Sunday night’s spectacular light show saw hundreds of hits recorded on the RFS lightning tracker before igniting in the hot and windy weather.

Late yesterday, RFS crews were battling blazes near Tamworth, Bendemeer, Tintunhull, Gunnedah and Ogunbil.

RFS Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said every crew available in Tamworth and Bendemeer had been deployed.

“The Bendemeer fire is a scrub fire which will be difficult because it’s very hard to access,” he said.

“Crews have mopped up fires along Wallamore Rd and one at Ogunbil which has been contained.”

But as the afternoon wore on more fires were becoming evident including one at Tintunhull that was sparked by fallen powerlines but was brought under control quickly.

At Carroll, waterbombing aircraft were deployed after a grassfire raced away about 2pm.

A Watch and Act warning was issued with a number of isolated properties near the fire zone while the Oxley Highway was shut down with flames burning close to the road.

It didn’t take long before firefighters bought the blaze under control and could begin to black out the smouldering hot spots and trees in the wake of the 50 hectare blaze.

But there was no rest for the eyes in the sky who were quickly diverted as more fires were called in.

“The helicopter helping out at Gunnedah has been diverted to Bendemeer to investigate the scrub fire,” Superintendent Purkiss said.

In Werris Creek, Fire and Rescue NSW backed up RFS crews after a 60 hectare blaze threatened to engulf a coal loader.

“We had two appliances down there protecting the coal loader while the RFS extinguished the fire,” Inspector Jeff Roche said.

And it wasn’t only firefighters feeling the heat with paramedics inundated with emergency call-outs as locals succumbed to the scorching temperatures.

Ambul ance NSW’s Inspector Ray Tait said the phones ran hot throughout the three-day heatwave as temperatures nudged 40 degrees.