At least two homes and a business were destroyed in one of the worst bushfires to tear through the coalfields in living memory.
Abermain and Weston residents gathered outside their scorched and blackened homes on Friday as they struggled to come to terms with the previous afternoon's inferno that threatened to wipe out their communities.
As fire crews mopped up hot spots across the 600 hectare fireground, the community began to rally in support of those worst affected.
An online fundraiser has been launched and a local cafe is accepting donations for a Weston family of six that was left homeless.
"Thankfully everyone's okay but they have lost everything including their pay from that day," friend Courtney Stride wrote.
"Corey and Kylie give so much time and effort to their community and would give you the shirt off their backs! Any little bit will help these amazing people get back on their feet."
Nearby, another family was seeking emergency accommodation after embers ignited in the roof of their home.
"I've got the clothes on my back and that's about it," Michael Firth said on Friday.
Mr Firth, his wife and two young sons fled their Elford Avenue house as the flames closed in from the surrounding bush at about 6pm.
Initial reports suggested their house had been spared, but at about 8.30pm they were advised embers had taken hold in the roof.
Fire crews raced to the scene to contain the fire but not before it had caused extensive damage.
"The boys were able to take a couple of things with them, but we've lost things that can't be replaced," Mr Frith told the Newcastle Herald from his brother's house.
"I really can't thank the firefighters enough. There were so many of them; they were like angels, just awesome."
Cessnock Road Tyre shop owner Brian Teasdale stood among the smoldering remains of his business that was incinerated at about 5pm.
"It took a lot of hard work to build-up the business. It's gut-wrenching to see it go," he said.
"The fire was heading south but then it turned on us in seconds. It was just a matter of preserving human life in the end.
"The fireries were here in seconds, they did an excellent job."
He said he was hoping to rebuild the business.
"We will try get back up. I've got seven staff, I just want to look after them," he said.
Appleton Street resident June Horder said she feared she was leaving her home of 65 years for the last time as she got into a neighbour's car to escape the flames that towered over the back of her property.
"We've never had a fire like that before. They have come through and headed up past the hospital so we weren'tn expecting it," she said.
"I was hosing my place when my neighbour sang out and said 'get your bag'. I turned around it (the fire) was half way down the paddock, flames going everywhere.
"I got in the car and we just left. It's the worst I've ever seen it."
Likewise, Hospital Road resident Peter Dodd said he was convinced he was about to lose his house.
"I just got and it was like the town was on fire. It just came through so quickly, the ferocity was incredible. There were explosions and I thought this is it, I'm going to lose my house and it's a brick house, " Mr Dodd said as surveyed the charred landscape around his home on Friday.
"It was exactly like 2016; it was scary.
"Those firefighters deserve all the praise they get. I take my hat off to them.
"I don't know how it started and I'd hate to think it was deliberately lit."
