Police Investigate Unit Fire At Jesmond

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a unit at Jesmond overnight.

Firefighters were called to a two storey six unit complex in Harvard Close just before 1.00am today (Wednesday 10 September, 2025) to find unit 4 engulfed in flames.

Newcastle Fire Command says the occupants of all the units were safely evacuated and no-one was injured.

Around 30 firefighters took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.

Two neighbouring units also sustained structural damage.

Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue into the cause of the fire. 

 

UPDATE! Firefighters Battling House Fire At Boolaroo

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire investigators have been called in to determine the cause of a fire which has destroyed a shed at the rear of a home in Boolaroo early Tuesday.

Crews were called to Second Street just after 3.30am to find a large amount of smoke and flames issuing from the rear of the weatherboard home.

They took almost two hours to completely extinguish and mop up the fire.

It's believed an E-Scooter left on charge may have sparked the blaze.

EARLIER: 

Firefighters are battling a house fire at Boolaroo.

Emergency services were called to the single story weatherboard home in Second Street just after 3.30am on Tuesday to find the rear of the house well alight.

A shed at the rear of the property was also on fire.

Fire crews from Cardiff took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control and are now working to fully extinguish the blaze..

Newcastle Fire Command says all the occupants safely evacuated, although a pet dog is still missing.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at this stage.

 

BREAKING! Crews Battling Garbage Truck Fire At Merewether

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are working to extinguish a large rubbish pile fire at Merewether.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were called to the corner of Darling Street and Chatham Road just before 5.30am on Thursday, where the contents of a garbage truck caught alight, forcing the driver to dump the load on the roadway.

Crews from Merewether and Charlestown are tackling the 10 x 10 metre rubbish pile.

A discarded lithium battery is suspected to have caused the fire.

Bushfires Threaten Homes In The Lower Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

More strike teams are heading to the Lower Hunter on Friday morning to relieve weary firefighters battling a huge bushfire near Cessnock.

Three separate fires joined to create a dangerous fast-moving fire which threatened the townships of Abermain, Kurri Kurri, South Weston and Pelaw Main.

The fire has burnt through more than 600 hectares leaving Teasdale Tyres at Weston in ruins along with a number of homes.

Although the fire is listed at Advice level, work is continuing to bring the blaze under control.

Inspector Ben Shepherd from the Rural Fire Service says the exact number of properties lost is yet to be determined.

"We have what we call building impact assessment teams. They'll move across the fire ground today just trying to establish what exactly has been lost," he said.

Six schools are closed on Friday due to the fire threat.

They include Abermain, KurriI Kurri, Edwards, Pelaw Main and Weston Public Schools as well as Stanford Merthyr Infants School.

Almost 1600 properties remain without power around Abermain, Weston, Sawyers Gully and Neath. Ausgrid hopes to have complex repairs competed by 10.00am on Friday.

Meanwhile, a fire which threatened homes at West Wallsend has also been downgraded to Advice level overnight and is now under control after burning through more than 60 hectares.

Many residents were forced to flee their homes but there are no reports of property damage.

Both the M1 Pacific Motorway and Leggetts Drive at Richmond Vale have re-opened to traffic.

Crews will again be on alert on Saturday, with an elevated fire risk expected.

Teasdale Tyres and a car on fire at the height of the blaze. Picture Sky News