A car deliberately set alight on the Hunter Expressway has sparked a large grass fire at Allandale overnight.
Five Fire & Rescue and sic RFS trucks were called to the east-bound lanes of the expressway near the Heddon Greta off-ramp just after 11.00pm on Wednesday.
The fire quickly spread and at one stage was one kilometre long and 200 metres wide.
It burnt through 10 hectares of scrub before being brought under control.
Firefighters were on scene for more than 4 hours - the fire is now being patrolled.
One east-bound lane of the expressway was closed to traffic but has since been re-opened and no properties were under threat.
