Bushfire Danger Period In Hunter Finally Ends

BY IAN CROUCH

Rural Fire Service volunteers in the Hunter are looking forward to spending more time with their families after a very busy bushfire danger period, which officially winds up today.

The RFS turned out to more than 1200 jobs in the Lower Hunter, including the huge Lone Pine fire at Port Stephens which burnt out more than 9,000 hectares over eight days, and the Racecourse Road fire at Cessnock which tore through just over 1,000 hectares

More than 500 volunteer firefighters battled those two fires assisted by 13 aircraft.

Bushfire Update Wed 9 Nov 2016

BY IAN CROUCH

 Much-needed rain has fallen across the Lone Pine fire at Port Stephens overnight, with more showers forecast today.

The blaze isn't posing any threat but is yet to be officially contained.

The rain and cooler conditions have helped firefighters bolster containment lines.

The fire has burnt though more than 9,000 hectares from Medowie in the south to Limeburners Creek in the north since Saturday.

Meanwhile, Newcastle Fire and Rescue says Cessnock residents may see minor flare-ups of the blaze which tore through more than a thousand hectares at the weekend over the next week or so.

Smouldering tree stumps and logs are to blame.

Bushfire Update

BY IAN CROUCH

 Firefighters are taking advantage of milder conditions this morning to strengthen containment lines around two big bushfires burning in the Hunter.

The Lone Pine fire has burnt through more than 6500 hectares and remains out of control, with the massive blaze still listed at Watch and Act Level.

At one stage yesterday the fire threatened communities at Limeburners Creek and Karuah where a couple of sheds and several cars were destroyed.

The focus today will be on the townships of Swan Bay and Medowie, with strong north-westerly winds expected to pick up through the day.

The Pacific Highway has been re-opened north of Raymond Terrace, but The Buckets Way remains closed.

The Cessnock fire is at Advice level and is not currently posing any immediate threat to properties at Kitchener and Abernethy.

More than 200 firefighters are keeping a close watch on both fires, with water bombing aircraft also working to damp down hot spots.

For more information visit the RFS website  http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ or by calling the NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737

For the latest information on road closures visit the Live Traffic website  https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html