NSW firefighters used back-burning to contain a 130-hectare bushfire near Carrington, urging residents to stay alert.

Firefighters in New South Wales conducted a back-burning operation near Carrington, north of Newcastle, to contain a 130-hectare bushfire in the Karuah Nature Reserve. The controlled burn, aimed at removing fuel ahead of the fire front, was set along Carrington Road and near homes, causing increased smoke. Residents were advised to stay alert, expect sudden road closures, and follow instructions. A similar fire on Branch Lane in Karuah had been controlled earlier. Seven fire grounds across the Mid and Central Coast regions were active, all at the "Advice" level with no immediate threat to life or property. The NSW Rural Fire Service urged the public to monitor updates via the Hazards Near Me app.