A BLAZE that came within metres of homes in Oxley Vale and saw two firefighters treated for smoke inhalation and heat stroke is under investigation by police.
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At this stage nobody has been arrested or charged for the grass fire that spurred multiple Triple Zero calls about 4pm on Sunday afternoon.
Tamworth Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) rushed to the scene where the blaze was headed toward houses and a farm shed, Tamworth FRNSW zone commander Superintendent Tom Cooper said.
"It had a whole lot of 000 calls, so it must have been going pretty quick," he said.
"When firefighters arrived they mounted a direct attack on the fire to stop it in its tracks, but at about 4:15pm a priority message was sent to RFS that we were in trouble.
"It had jumped into another paddock on the other side of Orley Drive; it was a pretty quick fire and it got within 20 metres of the houses so they did a good job.
"It was a good combined effort."
When all units left the scene at least three hectares of land had been burnt out and the RFS firefighters who needed medical attention were returned home later that night without serious injury.
But, the tough fire conditions had more in store for RFS who were called to a stack of hay alight on a farm at Westdale in the early hours of Monday morning.
The hay will continue to burn in the paddock for some time, Tamworth RFS Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said.
"It's not going anywhere, the landholder will watch that today while our guys get some rest," he said.
"The landholder had bailed his stubble with hay in bunches around the paddock and one of those clumps caught fire, it may have been packed a little green."
The Westdale fire is at an advice level and is under control; but with a Total Fire Ban in place for Monday and another expected for Tuesday, firefighters have warned to community not to be complacent.
The conditions are certainly nowhere near as bad as last year, Mr Purkiss said, when firefighters had battle blazes continually since August and drought conditions were extreme.
"We have moisture in the ground and the dams so the fire behaviour is much more predictable," he said.
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"It is warm come Tuesday, but it looks like the hot weather will back off then for the rest of the week and by Thursday it looks like the fire danger rating will go back to a high."
Crews were also called to a house fire at Somerton at the weekend that was dealt with quickly and another small fire at Port Stephen's Cutting.
All the fires are contained and an RFS rapid area response team is on standby in Narrabri should fire conditions worsen.