The CFS said six trucks and a command car from the Mid North and Mt Lofty Ranges were heading north to help fight the 400,000ha fire burning out of control in the Barkly region.

Another 20 CFS personnel will fly to the Northern Territory today.

The CFS said it was the first time it had been deployed to the NT since 2011.

“This is the first deployment for the season within Australia, so when we received the formal request to assist Bushfires NT, we were willing to help by sending a team of skilled and experienced firefighters,” Hastie said.

“Many of the personnel flying to the Northern Territory today have been involved in deployments interstate previously.”

It comes as 3000 residents of Tennant Creek are urged to “stay calm” in the face of the 10,000 sq km blaze.

An Emergency Situation – a step below a statewide State of Emergency – was declared yesterday for the Barkly local government area.

Residents suffered through a nervous night as a wind change pushed the blaze four times the size of the ACT closer to their homes.

A community meeting was held at the Tennant Creek Town Hall on Tuesday night, with authorities reassuring residents an evacuation was not predicted.

Nathaniel Stanford from Bushfires NT told residents the Gosse River was the holding point for the town.

“So far the lines are holding well, the concern is the wind shift tomorrow,” he said.

“Gosse River Road is being used as another contingency, if it crosses the river, we’ll build new contingencies.”

Authorities reassured residents their houses would not be lost and if the fire jumped the containment lines, resources would be pulled back to town.

Three water bombers, able to dump 3000 litres at a time, are stationed in Tennant Creek.

The Barkly Highway has been intermittently closed since the blaze began on September 6 and smoky conditions on the Stuart Highway could cause closures.

The Australian Defence Force has also moved into Tennant Creek to help with firefighting efforts.

– with AAP