NSW weather: Massive Hunter bushfires downgraded

A massive blaze in the Hunter has been downgraded to ‘alert’ level overnight with a cool change helping firefighters get the upper hand.

A cool change has helped firefighters gain the upper hand on bushfires burning near Cessnock in the NSW Hunter Region.

The southerly change swept through just after midnight, bringing cooler temperatures enabling crews to slow the spread of fires burning near Cameron Park and Abermain and protect properties throughout the night.

“A cooler southerly change moved through both fire grounds overnight and they’re now both at advice level,” RFS Inspector Ben Shepherd said.

“The Cameron Park fire was contained at 3am on Friday morning, it burned through 60 hectares and there’s no reported damage at this stage.

“The Pacific Motorway is open and crews will remain on the fire ground today.”

There are reports of property damage in the lower Hunter. Picture: Firehorse23/X

There were reports of some property loss in Abermain. The RFS will send crews out Friday morning to assess the full extent of the damage.

“We know the tyre shop in Abermain was among the properties and structures lost near Abermain but the building assessment team will be out on the ground this morning,” Inspector Shepherd said.

The bushfires in the Hunter have been downgraded to advice level. Picture: Firehorse23/X

Firefighters are controlling the blaze but will scramble to finish off some backburning before severe conditions return on Saturday.

“Crews will remain on that fire ground overnight and back burn out that last bit of bush on the southern edge between the fire line,”

The Abermain fire ripped through more than 606 hectares of land.

There are still 65 bush and grass fires burning across NSW with 12 of them yet to be contained.

Friday’s focus for RFS will remain in the Hunter Region with a high fire danger rating on Friday and conditions deteriorating on Saturday.

“High fire danger today but tomorrow will be the real danger with dry and strong westerly winds forecast for the region.”

It comes after a young family fled their home in Sydney’s southwest after a fire broke out just after 2am on Friday morning.

A woman and two children escaped their Claymore house with no injuries but the place was completely destroyed.

Watch and Act: Pacific Motorway Fire, Cameron Park
The fire continues to burn between the Pacific Mty and West Wallsend. Firefighters remain on scene continuing to undertake back burning operations. Several lanes on the Pacific Motorway remain closed.https://t.co/EEs7oDuCwF pic.twitter.com/KkFCuei9sa

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 14, 2023

HUNTER BLAZE DESTROYS CARS, TYRE BUSINESS

A menacing blaze bore down on Hunter Valley towns on Thursday, destroying buildings and cars, as the first major bushfire incident of this summer in NSW left residents scrambling to defend their properties.

Three separate fires joined to form one big inferno that burnt a path towards the towns of Abermain, Weston and Kurri Kurri – about 15km east of Cessnock – in sweltering temperatures just under 40C.

Dramatic photos of the bushfire – that burnt in an easterly direction – showed buildings gutted, cars destroyed and also a tyre store, Teasdale Tyres, in flames in Kurri Kurri.

Abermain Hotel publican Jade Smith told The Daily Telegraph his pub’s balcony caught on fire before firefighters managed to bring it under control.

“It was pretty full on, the little embers caught onto the balcony,” he said.

Teasdale Tyres goes up in flames. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

A ute parked outside Teasdale Tyres was also engulfed by the flames. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

“One of the young blokes that was working rang me and told me it was going, he said: ‘The fire is across the road, it’s coming down behind the houses’.

“We had to shut the doors and cancel our dinner reservations and lock the doors and go.”

A firefighter tries to keep the flames at in Kurri Kurri. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

A fire truck brings more fireys to Kurri Kurri. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

The NSW Rural Fire Service said firefighters and water bombing aircraft were battling the blaze, which had swelled to 500 hectares in size.

The authority urged people in the areas of Kurri Kurri, Abermain, South Weston and Pelaw Main to stay alert and monitor the situation.

Material outside a home catches on fire. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

Firefighters in Kurri Kurri on Thursday. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

Kurri Kurri hospital was on standby to evacuate.

“Be aware of ember attack – embers will be blown long distances ahead of the main fire front starting spot fires, these may impact your home earlier than the main fire front,” the authority warned.

Firefigthters prepare in Kurri Kurri as smoke turns the sky dark. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

A burnt building near Kurri Kurri. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

Authorities set up two evacuation centres, at Kurri Kurri Bowling Club and Cessnock Leagues Club, to help those affected by the emergency.

Federal Labor MP Meryl Swanson visited firefighters who were taking a break at Kurry Football Grounds.

“So grateful to all these men and women who have come from near and far (some crews even from Sydney) to help our community,” she wrote online.

A burnt-out car in the aftermath of a bushfire passing through. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

Firefighters extinguish a roadside fire. Picture: Daniel Johnson/Severe Weather Australia

‘Fire trucks are broken just when we need them’

Furious firefighters say their vehicles aren’t fit for purpose, as concerns over soaring temperatures across NSW were realised with a major uncontrolled blaze breaking out in the Hunter.

Freedom of Information documents reveal the NSW Fire and Rescue budget for periodic truck maintenance has been cut from $900,000 to $600,000 for 2023-2024, with the Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) claiming the lack of cash is putting vehicles tasked with emergency responses at risk.

It comes as a major blaze broke out near Cessnock on Thursday, with NSW Fire and Rescue warning people near Pelaw Main, South Weston and Kurri Kurri Hospital to shelter in place.

An evacuation centre was set up at the Cessnock Leagues Club.

Greater Sydney and the Hunter were both the subject of total fire bans.

Amid the surge of hot weather raising fears of a bushfire-riddled summer, FBEU state secretary Leighton Drury claimed the condition of vehicles was a “disaster waiting to happen”.

The fire burning near Abermain in the lower Hunter Valley.

“Our union has been inundated with content from our membership, videos and photos from across NSW showing fire trucks in a state of complete disrepair,” he said.

“Fire Rescue and the state government are well aware that response times are crucial to protecting life and property.

Firefighters claim older vehicles are at risk of failing ahead of a predicted horror summer.

Messages are being written on the vehicles in protest.

“Every second counts in a fire. Fire trucks breaking down on the way to incidents is an unacceptable risk to both firefighters and the community.”

“These circumstances are compounded by increasingly hot weather. Right now, there just aren’t enough reliable, operational trucks to ensure the NSW community is protected.”

“The older the trucks get, the more maintenance they need.”

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman highlighted the overall budget for maintenance of the 700-plus vehicle fleet had grown by $900,000 year on year.

“Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) prepares strategic asset management plans in accordance with NSW Treasury requirements to inform them on future resource and investment requirements,” he said.

“FRNSW ensures vehicles meet all registration requirements, are thoroughly checked and maintained by FRNSW fleet mechanics, and only those vehicles assessed as being suitable for service life extension are continued in service.