Firefighters have worked through the night to extinguish a large bushfire near Kurri Kurri.
The fire broke out just before 2.00pm yesterday and jumped the Hunter Expressway, forcing the evacuation of the nearby sewerage treatment works.
At one stage, the fire threatened homes in Northcott Street and McLeod Road, while a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
The fire burnt through 50 hectares before being brought under control at midnight, with crews completing their mopping up work by around 4.00am.
Authorities are not ruling out arson as the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile, Lake Macquarie firefighters have brought a 14 hectare blaze at Wyee under control.
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| Crews Tackle The Loxford Bushfire. Picture: MJF Productions |
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| Smoke From The Loxford Bushfire Closes The Hunter Expressway Picture: MJF Productions |
