The 'holding pattern' continues for the north east of NSW, though good news to the south of us where some decent rains have come through. Nothing here, however, and nothing forecast.

Spoke to a senior fire fighter yesterday - he works at a building supplies place with stacks of timber lying around which is only 2km from the fire front (i'm about 4). He was pretty concerned - suggested that reports it was 'contained' weren't accurate. They've been trying to back burn and patrol fire-lines but with limited success due to the inaccessible terrain. They had more success when it came out onto farmland.

He said there'd been no water-bombing except to protect the internet antennae - which i can kind of understand due to overstretched resources - but there is a large lake in close proximity to the fire.

Today is bloody hot - mid 30's? - with northerlies around 20-30kph - not enough for it to go crazy but enough to keep it spreading