Firefighters warn they expect the threat posed by an out-of-control bushfire in northern New South Wales to reach Emergency Warning level amid deteriorating weather conditions on Monday afternoon.

As temperatures soar and winds increase, authorities are warning residents to consider leaving their homes if they are in the vicinity of a fire burning on Sugarbag Road between the towns of Drake and Tabulam, west of Casino.

"Our fire danger rating [is] at the highest it has been this year and the highest it has been for a number of years," Rural Fire Service (RFS) Northern Rivers district manager Daniel Ainsworth said.

"If you are not prepared [to stay and fight], now is the time to leave towards Tenterfield, if the way is clear," he said.

The fire is burning east, fanned by warm winds towa

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