Emergency-level bushfires have been declared in NSW this afternoon as the state grapples with hot, dry and windy conditions. 

One of the bushfires, at Cope, north of Mudgee, is burning in a hectare of land 12 kilometres east of Gulgong.

RFS spokesperson Angela Burford said residents were being advised that it was too late to leave.

"There are a number of properties both on Springwood Park Road and Cope Road [that] are in potentially the line of the fire," Ms Burford said.

"It is predominantly moving in a northerly direction.

"The messaging right now is that it's not safe for you to leave and you need to shelter in a solid structure."

The second emergency fire is burning in just over 1,800 hectares along Willi Willi Road at Moparrabah west of Kempsey.

David Duff from Toorooka, west of Willawarrin, said the fire was about 1.5 kilometres from his property.

He said it felt similar to when fires came through the area in 2019.

"It's out of control and a significant westerly wind blowing … it's a pretty significant fire and pretty serious," he said.

"We've been out on the dozer all morning [preparing the property] and we are here at the house now taking precautions with water and tanks and sprinklers and things."

Further north, fires at Bean Creek and Horseshoe Creek near Kyogle and Rocky River, near Casino, have elevated Watch and Act warnings.

Conditions volatile:

RFS Northern Rivers District Manager Daniel Ainsworth predicts it will be a challenging afternoon for firefighters.

"Conditions are changing quickly across all our fire fronts and so conditions at the moment are very, very volatile," he said.

There are about 75 fires across the state with total fire bans in place for eight regions across New South Wales amid the dry, and windy conditions.

The fire risk is rated as extreme in several regions including Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Far North Coast, North Western, Northern Slopes and New England.

A community meeting was held in the village of Ashford near Inverell last night as the Wallangara grassfire continued to burn through more than 4,000ha.

The Wallangara and Limestone roads are closed due to dangerous fire conditions, and residents have been warned to remain vigilant and monitor conditions.

'Scary' fire near Byron Bay:

Authorities on the Far North Coast are also working to control a fire that has been burning in coastal heath near Byron Bay (Above).

Kate Noller, who operates a horse riding school nearby, said the blaze started on Saturday afternoon.

"We had horses in the forest on a tour when it first started so we evacuated them pretty quickly, and then it just took off," Ms Noller said.

"It was pretty scary for the North Byron Hotel and some of the residents of Sunrise [Beach].

"We've evacuated all of our 40 horses, so they're at a different property now."

The fire remains at advice status and is listed as being controlled.

Original Story By | Bruce MacKenzie