Bushfire burning in Sydney's Northern Beaches downgraded from ...

A bushfire burning in Sydney's Northern Beaches has been downgraded by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) from Emergency to Watch and Act.

Firefighters with both the NSW RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW were battling the blaze, near Oxford Falls, today until it became out of control.

The fire is currently near Oxford Falls, burning east towards Cromer Heights. (ABC News)

By mid-afternoon, the fire was upgraded to an emergency warning, with the blaze burning east towards Cromer Heights.

At the time, there were Fire and Rescue NSW fire trucks in attendance, with 30 firefighters assisting the NSW Rural Fire Service.

A plume of smoke seen looking north from Manly Beach around 2:30pm. (ABC News: Nick Wiggins)

However, by 4:20pm the fire was downgraded from the Emergency alert level to Watch and Act. 

According to the NSW RFS, residents in the vicinity of Pinduro Place, Jersey Place, Maybrook Avenue, Kirrang Street, and Lady Penryhn Drive should be aware of ember attack.

Firefighters and water-bombing aircraft are working to slow the spread of the fire. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)

Speaking to ABC Radio Sydney, RFS Inspector Ben Shepherd said the fires were expected to lose intensity by the evening.

"But look, there'll be quite a large area now that we have to deal with and there could be the requirement to do some back-burns to contain this fire, but we should see those conditions ease into this evening," he said.

NSW RFS inspector Ben Shepherd said the fire was expected to lose intensity into this evening.  (ABC News: Taryn Southcombe)

Looking forward, Mr Shepherd said the forecast today suggested it would remain dry and warm. 

"But easing conditions, obviously, into this evening and again tomorrow," he said.