Students Evacuated After Merewether High Fire

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Students and teachers were evacuated from Merewether High School this morning after an alleged electrical fire. 

At about 10.50am, Fire and Rescue NSW received multiple triple zero calls reporting smoke billowing from an external air conditioning unit. 

Emergency services were one scene within six minutes of the calls, with four trucks and 16 firefighters attending from Newcastle, Lambton and Merewether stations. 

An on-duty inspector also attended. 

Acting Superintendent Kevin Smith said the school staff followed normal evacuation procedures, relocating students away from the fire. 

The blaze was quickly put out using CO2 extinguishers, confining it to the air conditioning unit. 

The students have since been returned to the buildings which have not been affected by the fire. 

No injuries were reported, with NSW Police and ambulance crews also present. 

Fire Crews Battle Blaze Which Engulfed Rutherford Mechanical Workshop

BY JACK SEYMOUR

Fire and Rescue NSW crews have successfully battled a fire which engulfed part of a large mechanical workshop overnight at Rutherford.

FRNSW crews from Maitland, East Maitland and Rutherford rushed to the business in Mustang Drive around 12.15am to discover flames had spread through the reception area of the workshop.

Firefighters forced their way inside and attacked the blaze, containing it in just over an hour, limiting the spread to nearby businesses.

They doused several spot fires and used positive pressure fans to disperse smoke from the scene.

Firefighters have handed control of the site to New South Wales Police amid suspicions about the cause of the fire.

Fire investigators are liaising with Police as investigations continue.

Image from FRNSW Media

Calls for Fire Station at Medowie

 BY PETER HYSLOP

The State's Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) is calling for better coverage of the Port Stephens region including a station at Medowie, following a tragic house fire.

On Sunday, 62-year-old Russell Magrath died after he couldn't be saved from his home, which was well alight by the time crews arrived.

State Secretary Leighton Drury has told 2NURFM minutes are precious in crew responses, but calls directed at the State Government for a station have fallen on deaf ears.

"We've been calling for extra resources for the Medowie area for a number of years now," he said.

"Medowie has over 10,000 people, thousands of dwellings, and certainly extra resources are critical in times like this.

"Unfortunately it's crickets from the Minister. They need to fund the services that will keep people safe," he said.

Two Men Injured Following Chemical Spill At Salamander Bay

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Emergency services have been working to contain a chemical spill at a resort in Salamander Bay.

Multiple Fire And Rescue NSW trucks, including HASMAT crews, at on site at Sandy Point Road, after 1000 litres of chlorine was reportedly spilled. 

Two men, one in his 50s, and another in his 30s have been treated for head injuries, after reportedly inhaling fumes.

One has been taken to the Tomaree Community Hospital, and the other to the John Hunter Hospital.  

Crews have reportedly contained the area and are working to clean up the chemicals. 

Teens Treated For Smoke Inhalation Following Scone Garage Fire

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two teens have been treated for smoke inhalation after a garage fire at Scone. 

Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to Kookaburra Avenue just before 1:30 yesterday afternoon (Wednesday the 8th of November, 2023), following a number of Triple Zero calls reporting large volumes of smoke and flames coming from the property.

Two teens, aged 13 and 16, escaped the garage but inhaled smoke and were treated at the scene by firefighters equipped with oxygen. 

The crews quickly extinguished the flames, which had spread to the roof of the two car garage, and were able to save the home.

They believe the fire began in a camping swag, which contained batteries from a lamp, and a portable Bluetooth speaker.

They're trying to determine whether Lithium-Ion batteries were to blame for the blaze. 

Fire Ravages The Burwood Inn at Merewether

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Fire Crews have spent the past few hours working to control a blaze which engulfed part of The Burwood Inn at Merewether. 

They were called to the scene on Berner Street just before 10:00am, following reports a fire had started and spread from the pub's kitchen, to the restaurant area at the back of the building. 

It's understood the fire may have started in a chimney flue, however an investigation into the cause is now underway. 

Two occupants managed to self evacuate and no one has been injured. 

Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Guy Lightfoot, said the prompt, aggressive attack used by firefighters helped to save the hotel which has been open since 1876.  

Fire Destroys Restaurant at Tamburlaine Winery

BY OLIVIA DILLON

RFS and Fire and Rescue crews have spent the night battling a structure fire at a winery at Pokolbin.

Emergency Services were called to Tamburlaine Winery on McDonalds Road at about 9:30pm, following reports a fire had broken-out in the restaurant area near the property's dam.

It's reported part of the building has collapsed, and it took more than 20 trucks over four hours to contain the blaze.

No one was injured however NSW Ambulance Services were also on-site, and investigations are now underway as to the cause of the fire.

 

 

 

BREAKING! Concerns Over Hazardous Material at Adamstown Car Fire

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle fire crews are currently investigating a car fire which occurred near Merewether Golf Club last night. 

The owner of the vehicle was able to locate it via GPS tracking, on King Street at Adamstown. 

There's concern over a Moisture Density Meter which is reportedly inside the vehicle, which could have a radioactive source. 

Hazardous materials experts have set up a safety zone around the area, and are seeking to find out if the meter is there, and if it has been breached. 

Crews have assured the area is stable.