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

Concerns For Man Missing From Pelaw Main

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a man who's gone missing in the Hunter region.

61-year-old Roy Quinton was last seen at a home on Stanford Street at Pelaw Main at about 7.40am on Tuesday 24 October, 2023..

Police were notified when he could not be contacted and there are serious concerns for his welfare.

Roy is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, with a medium build and short light grey hair.

He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved white polo shirt with a John Deere logo, faded blue jeans and beige elastic-sided work boots.

John is known to frequent the Pelaw Main, Kurri Kurri and Weston areas.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

Missing man, Roy Quinton

Update! Fire Cuts Power To Hundreds Of Homes Near Cessnock

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a fire which destroyed an electrical kiosk in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Ausgrid says the fire on Leggetts Drive at Pelaw Main was the result of an arson attack.

The company says local street lighting was blacked out due to the fire, however several residents say they also lost power at the time the fire broke out.

Anyone who can assist police with their inquiries is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

EARLIER:

Fire has destroyed a large electrical pillar box at Pelaw Main, cutting power to hundreds of homes and rural properties.

Firefighters from Kurri Kurri and the RFS were called to Leggetts Drive at about 5.30am on Wednesday to find the power kiosk well alight.

They took around 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

Thee cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Ausgrid is working to restore power to around 400 homes and properties in the district.

The electrical kiosk was well alight when firefighters arrived

It's believed arsonists are responsible for the blaze

  

UPDATE! Fatal Crash Sparks Bushfire at Pelaw Main Emergency Warning Issued

BY IAN CROUCH

8PM UPDATE:

The fire at Pelaw Main has been downgraded to Watch and Act Level.

Conditions have eased allowing firefighters to gain the upper hand on the blaze.

RFS Crews have stopped the fire at Richmond Vale Road, which still remains closed. Several other roads have now re-opened in the area.

Residents in and around the Averys Lane are urged to stay vigilant, as conditions could change. The fire remains at Watch and Act Level and residents should enact their bushfire survival plan.

Crews are hoping to keep the fire contained and reduce it to advice level. Firefighters are preparing for warm windy weather tomorrow.

There are no reports of loss or damage to property in the area.

7PM UPDATE:

The fire at Pelaw Main remains burning at an Emergency Level.

Fire is burning East from Leggets Drive and has burnt through around 200 hectares and is likely to keep growing.

Around 30 homes are potentially under threat around Averys Lane at Buchanan.

Residents are being advised to take shelter in a sold structure as the fire approaches.

The latest advice from the Rural Fire Service is that the fire has spotted to the east of Leggats Drive in an area known as The Dam on the western side of Richmond Vale Road.

Crews have managed to stop the fire at Richmond Vale Road however there are still fires burning to the north and south of the main fire front.

There are no reports of any property loss or damage at this stage. Around 30 homes are potentially under threat.

There are several road closures including Richmond Vale Road, Leggetts Drive, George Booth Drive  and Sheppeard Drive.

One of the Large Air Tankers at the Pelaw Main bush providing valuable support to firefighters on the ground who are working to slow the spread of the fire. Image: Rural Fire Service

6PM UPDATE:

An Emergency Warning has been issued for a fire burning at Pelaw Main.

The fire is burning in the area of Leggettts Drive and is heading in an easterly direction towards Avery Lane at Stanford Merthyr.

Residents are being advised that it is too late to leave and to seek shelter as the fire approaches and to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

The advice also applies for residents at Richmond Vale.

The RFS says around 25 homes are under threat around Averys Lane

Earlier:

Firefighters are battling a bushfire at Pelaw Main.

NSW Fire and Rescue and RFS crews were called to reports of a car on fire due to a crash on Leggetts Drive at about 10.30am on Tuesday.

It's believed one person has died in the crash

The fire has since jumped Leggetts Drive and is burning on both sides of the road with the fire heading in an easterly direction.

It's understood the fire has burnt through 6 hectares and is being fanned by gusty westerly winds.

Leggetts Drive has been closed in both directions south of Neath Street.

Extra resources are on the way and the RFS has requested a helitanker to assist ground crews.

There are no reports of properties under threat at this stage.

Image: Kel Hanson via RFS