BREAKING! Firefighters Called To Lambton Convenience Store

 BY IAN CROUCH

An investigation is getting under way into the cause of a fire in the upper level of a Lambton convenience store early today (Tuesday 28 April 2026).

Seven fire trucks were called to the Ezy Mart on Elder Street just after 4.00am to find smoke issuing from the second storey above the shop.

They took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control, with the blaze fully extinguished by 4.45am.

The fire was contained to the upper level.

Newcastle Fire Command says no-one was in the building at the time and no-one was injured.

 

Fire Forces Evacuation of Hamilton Restaurant

 BY IAN CROUCH

Six people have been evacuated after a fire broke out in a Chinese restaurant at Hamilton.

Newcastle Fire Command says seven trucks from Newcastle, Carrington, Lambton and Merewether were sent to the Beaumont Street restaurant just before 8.30pm on Wednesday 15 April, 2025 to reports of a fire in the kitchen.

Three crews with hoses took just over 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze which was confined to the kitchen area.

No-one was injured.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

 

Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At Thornton

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a suspicious fire overnight at a Thornton convenience store.

Fire crews from East Maitland and Tarro were called to the Ezy Mart on the New England Highway just after 1.00am today (Tues 10 February 2026) to find a fire in the office area.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews managed to contain the fire to office area, taking around 90 minutes to fully extinguish and mop up the blaze.

It's believed the fire was deliberately lit, with a Jerry can set on fire inside the front door of the store. 

 

 

 

Breaking! Crews Battle Fire At Wickham Gym

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire at a gym in Wickham overnight as suspicious.

Newcastle Fire Command says eight trucks and more than 30 firefighters were called to the Air Locker Training facility in Albert Street at 12.03am on Friday 23 January, arriving to find thick smoke pouring from the ground floor of the two storey brick building.

They took about an hour to bring the blaze under control, with all firefighting operations wrapping up just before 2.00am.

The fire was contained to the ground floor which also sustained smoke and water damage.

Police have set up a crime scene.

Forensic officers will be joined by the Fire Rescue Investigation Unit to look int the cause of the fire.

 

Fire Destroys Building At Avondale School

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Fire has destroyed a building on the grounds of the Avondale School at Cooranbong.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received 20 Triple Zero calls to the fire on Avondale Road at about 7.30pm on Wednesday, arriving to find the single level building fully involved in fire.

Crews managed to save a neighbouring building which was also being impacted by the flames.

Morisset Fire and Rescue were joined by 5 RFS crews, taking about an hour to bring the fire under control.

An RFS crew was called back at 4.40am today (Thursday 22 January 2026) to extinguish a re-ignition.

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

Crews tackle the flames at Avondale School. Picture Cooranbong RFS

Dozens Evacuated After Fire Breaks Out At Student Accommodation In Callaghan

 BY IAN CROUCH

More than a hundred residents have been evacuated after a fire broke out in student accommodation at Calllaghan.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews from Mayfield West and Lambton were called to a student accommodation block on Stannett Street just after 2.00am today (Monday 17 November 2025) to find the 5th floor of the complex filled with smoke.

150 residents were evacuated as crews began searching for the source of the fire - they found a fire in a rubbish bin in a bathroom of the one of the units.

The fire was quickly extinguished but it took crews more than an hour to fully ventilate the building before residents could return to their units. 

 

Man Arrested Over Cessnock Club Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court in November accused of deliberately setting fire to community club at Cessnock earlier this month.

Around 8.00am on Sunday October 19, Police were called to reports of a fire at the PCYC in Short Street, arriving to find entry had been gained into the foyer area and a fire set with what they believed was an accelerant.

The fire failed to spread before self-extinguishing.

Following investigations, police arrested a 39-year-old man at a house in Kurri Kurri yesterday morning.

He was charged with break and enter with intent to commit serious indictable offence and damage property by fire.

The man's been granted strict conditional bail to face Cessnock Court on November 19.

 

BREAKING! Firefighters Battling Blaze At Cardiff Self-Storage Facility

 BY IAN CROUCH

Dozens of firefighters are battling a fire at a Cardiff self storage facility.

Crews were called to Kennards Self Storage on Pendlebury Road just after 2.30 to find a fire in the second level of the two level building.

First arriving crews called for urgent assistance as the fire quickly spread to 6 storage units.

Newcastle Fire Command says around 50 firefighters are at the scene including aerial, Hazmat and support crews.

Police and ambulance are also at the scene and Pendlebury Road is closed to traffic.

The fire has taken 90 minutes to bring under control, with crews still working to extinguish the blaze.

However, the fire is proving difficult to extinguish due to the presence of lithium ion batteries, causing the fire to re-ignite.
 

Smoke issuing from the Kennards Self Storage facility at Cardiff

Fire crews staged in Pendlebury Road at Cardiff

 

UPDATE! Fire Crews Called to Blaze At Adamstown Towing Business: Arson Supected

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have set up a crime scene after an Adamstown towing business was allegedly targeted by arsonists in an early morning fire.

Firefighters were called to Fenwick's Towing in Fletcher Street just after 4.00am today (Wednesday 15 October, 2025) to find a caravan and four cars on fire.

They managed to contain the blaze and stop it spreading to a workshop on the site.

Police say they were called to reports of a break-in at the business just minutes before the fire broke out.

CCTV footage recovered from the scene allegedly shows two people with their faces covered setting fire to the caravan.

Forensic police and fire investigators have been called to the scene.

EARLIER:  

Firefighters have been called to a fire at a commercial premises at Adamstown.

Crews arrived at Fenwick's Towing in Fletcher Street just after 4.00am today (Wednesday 15 October, 2025) to find four cars and a caravan alight.

Firefighters from Lambton and Newcastle have managed to contain the blaze and stop it spreading to a workshop at the site.

Police and ambulance crews have also been called to the scene.

 

BREAKING! Firefighters Battling Blaze At Edgeworth Shopping Centre

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have been called to a shopping centre fire at Edgeworth.

Emergency services were called to Edgeworth Town Square on Main Road at about 4.45am to find a loading dock on fire.

Six fire trucks are at the scene.

Newcastle Fire Command says 24 firefighters are battling the blaze which has been contained to the loading dock where a large industrial bin is on fire.

It's understood some people have been safely evacuated and no-one's been injured.

 

Tarro Convenience Store Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a convenience store at Tarro overnight.

Crews were called to the Tarro Grocery and Convenience Store on Anderson Drive just after 1.30am today (Friday 25 July, 2025) to find a fire in the rear residence of the shop.
 
Around 30 firefighters took about an hour-and-a-half to bring the blaze under control.

No-one was in the shop or the residence at the time however fire crews discovered the remains of a deceased cat while mopping up hot spots.

Police say Fire & Rescue investigators have determined the fire started in a bedroom as a result of an electrical fault.

 

 

Central Coast Tyre Shop Damaged By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a tyre store on the Central Coast this morning.

Around 20 firefighters from three stations were called to the East Coast Tyre and Auto outlet on the Pacific Highway at Tuggerah just before 4.30.

They took about an hour to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to the second level of the shop.

No-one was injured and the fire is being treated as suspicious.

 

Appeal For Information Following Fire At Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Police have released a CCTV image of two people they wish to speak with following an alleged arson attack at Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre last month.

About 3:50am on Wednesday 27 November, emergency services were called to the building on Main Road, Speers Point, following reports of a fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews worked to extinguish the blaze; however, the building sustained extensive damage with repairs estimated to cost several million dollars.

Inquiries by strike force detectives have established that two persons were in the vicinity of the council building at the time of the incident.

Anyone able to identify the persons, or with information or dashcam footage from the area between 2am and 4:30am on Wednesday 27 November is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

                              The CCTV image: Picture by NSW Police

UPDATE! Firefighters Called To Lake Macquarie Administration Centre At Speers Point

 BY IAN CROUCH

Numerous fire crews have been called to reports of a fire at the Lake Macquarie City Council Administration Centre at Speers Point.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were called to the centre in Main Road at about 4.00am on Wednesday to find fires on the ground floor and level one of the building

The incident has prompted a major emergency response with fire crews from Cardiff, Teralba, Tingira Heights, Charlestown and Holmesville in attendance along with a number of specialist units.

Crews achieved fire control at 5.15 and are now ventilating the building

The Fire Investigation Unit has been called in and police are also looking into the cause of the fire.

Council CEO Morven Cameron says staff at the Administration Centre will work from home today and the centre will be closed for the time being for walk-in customers.

Council's Customer Service line is also out of action, but work is under way to get it back on line.

House Destroyed By Fire At Aberdare

BY JORDAN REGNIS 

Three people have been saved from a fire that has destroyed a home at Aberdare.

The blaze broke out just after 9.00 am on Friday morning in the large single-story residence on Greta Street.

More than 30 Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters and 10 fire trucks responded to multiple Triple Zero (000) calls to the home on fire.

Upon arrival, FRNSW crews found the house fully engulfed with fire, with large volumes of smoke issuing from the property.

Firefighters quickly got to work to extinguish the blaze but were forced to withdraw to a safer position after the roof collapsed.

Investigations will continue to determine the cause of the fire. 

                                      Picture by Peter Lorimer

Police Release Image Of Man Wanted For Questioning Over Kurri Kurri Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley detectives have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to a fire which devastated a Kurri Kurri business last month.

Around 50 firefighters battled the blaze at the Resourceful Living recycled furniture factory in Northcote Street on Thursday Oct 10.

At the time, Police said the blaze was suspicious.

They've now released a photo of man who they believe can assist with their investigation.

Anyone who may be able to identify the man is urged to contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers.

Police believe this man can assist with their inquiries into the Kurri Kurri fire

Crews Called To Commercial Laundry Fire At Hamilton South

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters say an overnight fire at a Hamilton South commercial laundry could've been much worse.

Around 20 firefighters from three stations, including the ladder platform from Newcastle, were called to Ezy Laundry in Hassall Street just before 10.00pm on Tuesday.

They had to force entry to the premises, where they found a dryer on fire.

It's taken about an hour to douse the flames and ventilate the heavily smoke-logged premises.

The fire was contained to the dryer, which was destroyed in the blaze along a customer's clothing.

A dryer and a customer's clothes were destroyed by fire at the Ezy Laundry outlet at Hamilton South

Boat And Cars Damaged By Fire At Edgeworth

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating a suspicious fire at Edgeworth overnight.

Four fire crews from Cardiff and Holmesville were called to a home in Nott Street at about 9.45pm on Monday to find a boat and a car had caught fire.

Newcastle Fire Command says the car fire had been extinguished prior to arrival of firefighters.

They took about 20 minutes to put out the boat fire.

A second car sustained minor fire damage.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Maitland Disability Support Hub Destroyed By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

A disability support service provider is counting the cost of a devastating fire at its Maitland hub.

Firefighters were called to the Sunnyfield Disability Services premises on High Street just after 3.15pm on Thursday to find the single level weatherboard cottage well alight.

It's taken about an hour to bring the fierce blaze under control - fortunately no-one was in the building when the fire broke out.

More than 30 firefighters tackled the fire, with crews remaining on scene until just before 7.00pm, extinguishing hot spots and mopping up the blaze.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed but it's not believed to be suspicious.

Crews arrived to find the Sunnyfield hub at Maitland well alight . Picture Trevor & Teena Johansen

Crews Called To Fire At Tea Gardens Mechanics Workshop

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police say a fire which caused damage to a Tea Gardens Mechanics workshop last night is not being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews from Tea Gardens, Raymond Terrace and Tarro were joined by local RFS crews who called to Stockos Servicing in Yandala Street at about 7.30pm on Tuesday to find smoke issuing from the large industrial workshop.

Crews found a fire in the main office area, taking just over an hour to douse the flames.

Police say it's believed a faulty power point may have sparked the blaze.