Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At Cessnock McDonalds

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police are appealing for witnesses after fire caused severe damage to the McDonalds Restaurant at Cessnock.

Firefighters were called to the store on Allandale Road at about 3.30am on Sunday (18 July 2020) to find an external playground and dining area on fire.

The flames spread to the roof of the restaurant and caused some internal damage before the fire was extinguished.

No-one was in the building at the time.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The fire-damaged playground equipment at Cessnock McDonalds Picture: Fire & Rescue Kearsley

BREAKING! Motorhome Goes Up In Flames At Stockton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a fire which destroyed a motor home at Stockton overnight.

Firefighters were called to Fullerton Street just after midnight on Monday to find the vehicle, which was parked on the street, well alight.

It's taken them about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area at the time is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

UPDATE: Police Calling for Public Assistance, as Muswellbrook Home is Set on Fire Twice in a Week

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are appealing for public assistance after a Muswellbrook home was targeted in two suspicious blazes in the past week.

Around 4.30am on Saturday the 7th of March and 5.00am on Tuesday the 10th of March, NSW Fire and Rescue crews were called to a home on Bligh Street in Muswellbrook.

On Tuesday morning, neighbors contacted emergency services when they saw the home was fully engulfed in flames.

The home was vacant on both occasions, with the building now completely destroyed.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have heard or witnessed any suspicious activity in the area in the early hours of either Saturday the 7th or Tuesday 10 March to contact Muswellbrook Police on 6542 6999 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

House Destroyed By Fire At East Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which destroyed a house at East Branxton early Wednesday as suspicious.

18 fire trucks were called to the single level timber and iron house on Vineyard Haven Parade just after 1.30am to find the home well alight.

4 occupants managed to escape unharmed.

It's believed the fire started in the rear of the building.

It's taken crews 2 hours to extinguish and mop up the fire

Suspicious car fires in Charlestown

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

Two cars were set alight overnight, and Lake Macquarie Police District believe the incidents are linked.

The first occurred sometime between 5.30pm and 8pm yesterday, at which time police have been told a Hyundai i30 was found on fire at a home on Whitburn Close, Charlestown.

Neighbours and Fire and Rescue NSW assisted in extinguishing the blaze, and police were called to the scene to investigate.

While at this home, police received reports of another vehicle, a Subaru Forester, alight on Merran Avenue, Charlestown.

They were told the owner noticed his vehicle was on fire and extinguished the blaze.

He then noticed two separate small fires at the sides of his home, which were also extinguished.

Police are calling on anyone who may have CCTV or dash cam footage from around these times in the area.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Belmont Police on 4922 8899 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Lake Macquarie Police District Duty Officer, Chief Inspector David Matthews, said this is a timely reminder for residents to revisit their home security.

“Always try to park vehicles inside a garage where possible, never leave valuables inside your car and in plain sight, and always remember to lock the door before walking away. These may seem like simple reminders but they can help you avoid becoming a victim of crime,” Inspector Matthews said.

Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At Anna Bay Caravan Park

BY IAN CROUCH

Police say a fire which damaged the exterior of a caravan at an Anna Bay caravan park this morning was deliberately lit.

A NSW fire crew from Nelson Bay and the RFS were called to the Emerald Tiki Village on Nelson Bay Road just after 2.30am.

It's believed someone lit a fire next to an unoccupied caravan - crews were quickly on scene and extinguished the blaze before it could take hold.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprit.

Police Investigate Suspicious Fires At Tenambit And Morpeth

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have been kept busy early Thursday morning with two suspicious fires at Tenambit and Morpeth.

Crews were called to a disused church on Collinson Street just before 3.30am to find a caravan parked next to the timber building well alight.

The caravan has been destroyed and the church sustained superficial damage.

Then, just after 4.30am, crews were called to an industrial bin fire about a block away in Kenneth Street behind the Morpeth Pie Shop.

It's taken about 20 minutes to extinguish - the fire was contained to the bin.

Police are investigating both fires.

Townhouses Damaged In Suspicious Fire At Jesmond Construction Site

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a group of townhouses under construction at Jesmond.

Firefighters from Wallsend and New Lambton were called to Goodwin Street just before 2.00am on Monday to find 3 townhouses on fire.

It's understood there were multiple ignition points under the sub floor of the units.

Newcastle Fire Command says the fires were contained to the 3 townhouses and crews handed over the scene to police at 2.50am.

A crime scene has been set up as investigations continue.