The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has downgraded the emergency fire warning at Sandy Creek, east of Armidale, to "watch and act" status.

Key points: The blaze is moving away from Armidale, towards regional properties

The blaze is moving away from Armidale, towards regional properties Firefighters are on the scene, supported by air tankers

Firefighters are on the scene, supported by air tankers A total fire ban has been declared for several areas in NSW tomorrow

Strong westerly winds were blowing the fire east towards homes on Waterfall Way, where residents were advised to seek shelter from the heat of the blaze.

Earlier, RFS spokesman James Morris told residents "it is too late to leave."

"We do want those residents to seek shelter if that fire approaches and obviously protect themselves from the heat of that fire if it comes towards homes," he said.

Waterfall Way is closed between Ebor and Armidale, and diversions are in place via Guyra Road and the New England Highway.

The RFS sent a helicopter and two large airtankers, including a repurposed Boeing 737 with a 15,000 litre capacity, to the scene.

The bushfire was downgraded to watch and act around 4:15pm. ( Twitter: NSW RFS )

The fire was elevated to an emergency warning "due to a number of homes to the east of that fire coming under threat," Mr Morris said.

The fire is approximately 50 kilometres east of Armidale, and moving in the opposite direction to the town.

The RFS has declared total fire bans for the Northern Slopes, New England and north western areas of NSW tomorrow.

"We do have a total fire ban in place throughout the New England tomorrow with a severe fire danger so in those conditions fires will be difficult to control and properties would be difficult to defend," RFS spokesman Matthew Reams said.