Molotov cocktail sparks grass fire at Doyalson as bushfires rage further north

As two bushfires raged north of the Central Coast police fear a molotov cocktail was used to spark a grass fire at Doyalson.

Fire crews undertake back burning near Railway Crescent, Belmont, as an out-of-control bushfire burned in Lake Macquarie. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

• RFS protect Belmont properties
• Car fire on M1 sparks bushfire at Killingworth

Police are hunting a small blue sedan last seen driving north towards Newcastle after a molotov cocktail was believed to have ignited a small grass fire at Doyalson.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the small grass fire at the intersection of Rutleys Rd and the Pacific Highway about 8.30pm on Thursday.

Police are appealing for information after a molotov cocktail like bottle and wick was found after a small grass fire at the intersection of Pacific Highway and Rutleys Rd. Picture: Google

Once the fire was extinguished, a bottle with a wick protruding from it was located nearby.

Police were called with Tuggerah Lakes Police commencing inquiries.

Investigators are now appealing for the public’s assistance and are calling for anyone who may have captured dashcam footage while driving through the area around the time of the fire.

In particular, police are searching for a small blue sedan which was reported to be driving north toward Newcastle on the Pacific Highway around the time of the fire.

It came as RFS crews were battling two blazes at Belmont and Killingworth, north of Freemans Waterhole.

The Killingworth fire had caused extensive delays on the M1 motorway while the fire at Belmont came close to threatening homes.