BY IAN CROUCH
Firefighters are bracing for extreme fire danger, with a Total Fire Ban declared for the Greater Hunter today (Monday 23 December, 2024).
Temperatures in the low to mid 30's combined with gusty northwest to westerly winds and dry conditions have fires crews on alert.
The fire ban covers the Local Government Areas of Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and The Upper Hunter.
Already this morning, crews have battled a 100 square metre grass fire at Bennetts Green.
Two trucks were called to South Street just before 4.00am, taking around an hour to extinguish and mop up the fire.
