Fire crews battle bushfire in Australia's central New South Wales

Firefighters are battling a bushfire at Bathurst in Australia's central New South Wales (NSW), the state's fire authority said on Friday. In its major fire updates, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said the bushfire is burning at Wattle Flat, 37 km north of Bathurst. "The fire is currently 35 hectares in size and is out of control," it said. However, the RFS said firefighters are getting the upper hand on the fire but the immediate threat has now passed. A number of helicopters and water bombers are working on the fire front. A watch and act alert is in place for the people in the area and residents are warned to look out for spot fires. "Embers may be blown ahead of the fire, creating spot fires that will move quickly and in different directions," the RFS warned. "These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front." Police have closed Sofala Road between Wattle Flat highway and Peel Road south of Wattle Flat.