Total Fire Ban Declared For The Greater Hunter

 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.

Crews Contain Separate Grass Fires At Pokolbin

 BY IAN CROUCH

Quick work by Rural Fire Service volunteers has contained a grass fire at Pokolbin early Monday morning.

Crews from the Pokolbin brigade were called to Marrowbone Road at about 3.00am to find two separate fires and called for further assistance.

The fires were quickly brought under control.

Crews will continue to patrol the fire throughout the day ahead of hot and windy conditions forecast today and tomorrow.

Crews on  scene at two separate grass fires at Pokolbin early Monday morning Picture: Pokolbin RFS

Lovedale Bushfire Threatens Homes

BY OLIVIA DILLON

More than 70 firefighters and 27 trucks worked to contain a bushfire which broke out at Lovedale yesterday.

The blaze on Talga Road was updated to "Watch and Act" at about 2:10pm when it began threatening nearby properties.

A spokesperson from the NSW Rural Fire Service has told The Newcastle Herald, at its peak, there was a truck positioned at every neighboring home around the then 21-hectare fire. 

It's since been upgraded to a 48-hectare blaze.

It was one of six fires which burned across the Hunter yesterday (Tuesday the 26th of September, 2023) and was brought back to "Alert" level just before 4:00pm. 

BREAKING! Firefighters Battling Large Grass Fire On Ash Island

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are battling a large grass fire on Ash Island at Hexham.

Crews from Tarro, Charlestown and Cardiff have been called to Ramsar Road where an area covering 500 metres by 500 metres is well alight.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were alerted to the fire by a passing train driver at about 4.30am on Friday and there are 4 separate fires.

Police have also been called to the fire, with first responding firefighters reporting seeing a group of males leaving the area in a car when they arrived.

 

Fire Warning Issued for The Hunter

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

The NSW Rural Fire Service is warning of an increased risk of grassfires in the Hunter this weekend, with hot and dry weather expected. 

Temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees in Newcastle on Saturday, and will remain high throughout next week. 

Landholders in the region are asked to be cautious, especially when using machinery outdoors. 

They're also asked to ensure they have an up-to-date fire safety plan. 

NSW RFS Inspector Mark Denton, said it's important to be prepared. 

"Every landholder should be prepared for fire and have firefighting equipment on hand, such as a full knapsack, spray pumper or a handheld fire extinguisher, each in good working order," he said.  

Residents are also reminded to download the state government's new Hazards Near Me NSW app. 

Helicopter Brought In To Douse Large Grass Fire At Stroud

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have contained a large grass fire which broke out at Stroud on Monday afternoon.

RFS crews from Dungog, Vacy, Paterson, Bendolba, Bolwarra, Clarence Town, Flat Tops, Gresford, Booral, Seaham, Stroud, North Arm Cove, Wards River and Bulahdelah were called to Stroud Hill Road at about 1.00pm to reports of a running grass fire.

A water bombing helicopter was also brought in to help battle the flames, which burnt through 35 hectares before it was finally brought under control.

No properties were under direct threat from the fire. 

A water bombing helicopter attacks the flames at Stroud Picture: Paterson RFS

Crews Battle Large Grass Fire At Mindaribba

 BY IAN CROUCH

Several RFS crews have worked through the night to contain a large grass fire at Mindaribba.

The fire has burnt through more than 195 hectares off Eelah Road, but no property is under threat.

Crews have been hampered by hilly and boggy terrain.

They've managed to bring the large blaze under control but will continue to patrol the area in coming days.

The fire is now listed at Advice level.

Crews were hampered by hilly and boggy terrain Picture: Bolwarra-Largs RFS

Felled Power Pole Sparks Grass Fire At Jerrys Plains

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which tore through four hectares of grassland as Jerrys Plains early Monday morning as suspicious.

Hunter Valley Police say a power pole was deliberately cut down with a chain saw in Edderton Road at about 3.00am on Monday, bringing down live power lines which started the fire.

8 RFS trucks attended the fire, taking around 30 minutes to bring the flames under control.

Police say no homes were under threat, however power was cut to one rural property.

Police say a grass fire at Jerrys Plains was sparked by an act of vandalism

UPDATE! Firefighters Called To Large Grass Fire At Pokolbin

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews are mopping up a large grass fire which at one stage threatened to cross Wine Country Drive at Pokolbin.

The fire broke out near McDonalds Road at about 9.30am on Thursday and quickly spread, fanned by strong winds.

Several RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue crews were sent to fight the blaze along with a water-bombing helicopter.

It's taken around an hour to bring under control after burning through 8 hectares.

EARLIER:

Several RFS crews have been called to a large grass fire at Pokolbin.

Firefighters arrived in Wine Country Drive just after 9.30 to find a fast moving fire heading towards the road.

It's already burnt through about 5 hectares after breaking out near McDonalds Road and motorists are being advised to avoid Wine Country Drive due to a large amount of smoke across the road.

Extra resources are on the way including a water bombing helicopter.

The RFS says no properties are under threat at this stage.

Crews Battle Large Grass Fire At Allandale

BY IAN CROUCH

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.