'Super fire' tore through Willawarrin, fears worst is yet to come | Photos

The small country town, 30km west of Kempsey, was engulfed in flames on Friday afternoon when howling winds blew the Toorumbee Complex fires into Willawarrin.

An unconfirmed number of homes have been lost but the RFS and community members managed to save the majority of the properties in town, including the General Store and Willawarrin Hotel.

Heartbroken resident Karen Anderson was astonished by the size of the inferno and admitted she thought her town would be reduced to rubble.

"It was a super fire, it was going to go wherever it wanted to go and nobody was going to stop it," Ms Anderson told the Argus.

"The wind was absolutely horrific and it was swirling. You didn't know which direction the fire was going to go.

"The fire came through town, then it went down Armidale Rd and it jumped from side to side. Paddocks have completely blackened out but thankfully there are houses still standing even though it burned right up along the fence lines.

"I couldn't believe my eyes. I wasn't even thinking of my life, you don't in that situation, my mind went to others and my town straight away. It's heartbreaking."

Related content:

Ms Anderson said there was no warning the fire was on the doorstep of Willawarrin until it was too late, as she relived the terrifying minutes on Friday afternoon.

"At about 5pm, I received a notification there was a fire at Kyuna Track and we all started to be aware and watch it on the fires near me app. It was upgraded from advice to shelter in place but it also told us Bellbrook was in the fireline," she said.

"It didn't mention Willawarrin but then within about 20-minutes of the first notification, police came rushing in and told everyone to get out of town. But by then it was too late, there was already houses on the outskirts of town burning.

"We had little to no time to put things in place."

In the midst of the sheer terror and panic, some residents fled the town while others stayed to battle the blaze.

Ms Anderson initially made the decision to attempt to fight the fire before later realising she had no option but to leave.

"We all just started doing what we could to fight the fires," she said.

"We used hoses, backpacks and IBCs full of water to put out spot fires and well into the night some residents were trying to save houses.

"But it got to a point when it became about just getting out, getting livestock out and evacuating.

"I drove into town and no one knew Willawarrin was burning. There wasn't an evacuation point set up, it had all happened so fast."

The fire continued to cause havoc over the weekend and local residents joined forces with the RFS in attempt to save as much as they can.

"Even last night (Sunday November 10), the fire was closing in on properties at Mungay Creek road and we sent out a message to say they needed help and about 20 people rushed down there to save a house when the fire was on its doorstep," Ms Anderson.

"The community is hurting but right now we are still fighting for ourselves and for one another."

Locals are now making a decision on whether to evacuate or stay and protect their homes ahead of tomorrow's predicted extreme fire conditions in the Kempsey Shire.

There are fears Willawarrin is once again in danger but Ms Anderson claims the community will live on despite the destruction.

"We are going to get as many people out as we can, save the people first, if we can get more livestock out we will but our hands are tied," Ms Anderson said.

"We will have to leave it to the professionals and when it's all over we need to come back and we will rally together and we will rebuild.

"We are a strong town but we are going to need help."

The Toorumbee Complex fires is at Watch and Act and has burned more than 71,000 hectares.

Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.

Also making the news: