A woman has been charged with sparking a bushfire in the state’s north, where lives and homes are under threat.

A total fire ban was in place across all of New South Wales when the blaze took hold at Tabulam, west of Casino.

Flames have since torn through almost 3000 hectares of land, impacting a number of properties.

The Wallangarra Fire smoke column from 23,000ft. Fire has moved 6km in one hour. #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/YMsUESR6az

— Rob Rogers (@robrfs) February 13, 2019

Police have now charged a 40-year-old woman with causing the fire.

At about 8am on Tuesday, she was allegedly burning rubbish in a large steel container in her backyard when she left it unattended.

It spread to bushland behind her home and took off.

The woman is facing multiple charges and will face court later this month.

That blaze and another one at Wallangarra are burning at Watch and Act levels while an emergency warning is still in place for a bushfire at Tingha.

EMERGENCY WARNING: #Tingha Plateau (Inverell LGA). The fire is heading in a northerly direction towards Gilgai, Pond Creek, Old Mill & Stannifer. Residents in these areas should seek shelter as the fire arrives. #nswrfs https://t.co/dpsmxarWLa

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 13, 2019

The toll so far:

• Six homes destroyed
• Five homes damaged
• Nine outbuildings destroyed
• Three outbuildings damaged

Townships north of Tingha are now under threat with residents urged to “seek shelter”.