Residents in northern New South Wales have been warned to prepare over the next few weeks as firefighters continue to battle two huge blazes west of Kempsey.
A bushfire has torn through more than 22,000 hectares of the Willi Willi National Park and Boonanghi Nature Reserve and is currently burning at advice level.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers said the massive fire could take weeks to fully extinguish.
"This fire is not going to be out in a matter of days, it's gonna be a couple of weeks dealing with this fire before we actually get it contained," Rogers told 9News.
"Simply because of the terrain and the size of the fire so we've got a long way to go, it's a marathon it's not a sprint."
Locals have been told to prepare and keep an eye out for embers which could potentially start smaller fires.
The fire is expected to worsen over the weekend as hot weather and strong winds are forecast.
"The priorities for the team at the moment is containing the fire to the east and the southern part of that fire," Rogers said.
The fire killed 56-year-old Richard Mainey, who was trying to defend his mother's property from the blaze.
"Richard was a caring brother and uncle, we will miss those dimples and cheeky grin more than words can ever say," his family said in a statement.
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A second fire in Hat Head is burning at advice level and has torn through more than 1300 hectares of land, cutting off the main road out of the town last night.
Residents have been told it's too late to leave by the RFS as Hat Head Road remains closed at the intersection of Kinchela Creek Right Bank Road.
The fire was expected to burn in an easterly direction today as conditions ease slightly.
