House fire at Fletcher

BY JARROD MELMETH

Firefighters have extinguished a blaze in Fletcher after reports of smoke from the back room of a home on Mowane Street.

The fire started just before 10am in the laundry with the suffering smoke damage.

Newcastle Fire Command has confirmed that everyone inside the home at the time of the fire has been accounted for.

Bush fire closes Pacific Highway

BY JARROD MELMETH

New South Wales Fire and Rescue say they have the upper hand on a bushfire at Ferodale, near Medowie that has closed the Pacific Highway in both directions.

The fire had jumped the motorway causing the road to be closed between the Buckets Way and Medowie road.

Inspector Ben Shepherd from NSWFR says the threat has eased but the highway will remain closed for another 30 minutes.

"That's mostly cause crews are working from that highway in an effort to try and control that fire.

"Although the threat has eased, we are still asking people to monitor the situation," Inspector Shepherd said.

Southbound motorists are advised to divert onto the Buckets Way, Limeburners Creek Road, East Seaham Road and Warren Street Road then Seaham Road.

Northbound motorists are advised to divert onto Seaham Road, Warren Street, East Seaham Road, Limeburners Creek Road and the Buckets Way.

It follows a fire at Cameron Park that burned through five hectares of bushland at around 5:30 this morning.

Photo source: Fire and Rescue Raymond Terrace.

Port Stephens fire fighter charged

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police will address the media this afternoon after a Port Stephens fire fighter was arrested on Monday for allegedly making a number of false calls to Triple Zero.

Investigations from Strike Force Wenske led investigators to a Port Stephens home where a 20-year-old probationary member of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service was arrested.

Strike Force Wenske was established in August 2017 by officers from Port Stephens Local Area Command assisted by the State Crime Command, Property Crime Squad, Arson Unit, to investigate hoax reports of fire and motor vehicle accident.

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with three counts of make false call to emergency services number, eleven counts of make vexatious calls to an emergency services number, and assault with act of indecency.

It will be alleged in excess of forty calls were made from pay phones and a mobile phone to contact Triple Zero and report fictitious bush fires and motor vehicle accidents.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday 20 October 2017.

Fire at Belmont High School

BY JARROD MELMETH

Students have been evacuated from Belmont High School following a fire believed to have broken out in a wood work classroom just after 12pm.

Fire and rescue crews were called to the scene of the fire, which is believed to have started in the classrooms dust extractor.

No one is believed to be injured, but police and ambulance are on the scene as a precaution.

Alleged Kurri Kurri arsonist refused bail

BY JARROD MELMETH

Accused Kurri Kurri arsonist 26-year-old Craig Lambkin has been refused bail in Maitland Local Court today after telling police he threw a lit cigarette into nearby bushland during a total fire ban on Tuesday.

Mr Lambkin was arrested in his front yard following the incident on Tuesday and taken to Maitland police station where he was charged with intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread stemming from a blaze that burned behind the Kurri Kurri Aquatic Centre. 

Mr Lambkin was refused bail by Magistrate John Chicken until March. 

Photo source: The Maitland Mercury