Singleton firebug: Detectives are investigating links between up to eight suspicious fires in five hours

A former school was destroyed, a cement works threatening and other fires lit in a five-hour period near the banks of the Hunter River.

Detectives are hunting a firebug who lit up to eight fires in one night across Singleton, including a blaze which destroyed four buildings at a former Catholic school.

Fire crews were called to the series of blazes overnight on Monday, with up to six grass and scrub fires quickly extinguished.

Fire crews were called to a series of fires across Singleton overnight on October 4, including one where four buildings at an old Catholic school were destroyed. Photo: Singleton Fire and Rescue NSW/Rev Thomas Chirackal/Facebook

But it was the blaze which destroyed four demountables at the disused school on Boundary Rd and another fire which threatened a cement business which caused the most concern.

Singleton Fire and Rescue responded the first blaze behind the town’s cinema about 10.45pm which burnt less than 100 metres of scrub.

Fire crews were called to a series of fires across Singleton overnight on October 4, including one where four buildings at an old Catholic school were destroyed. Photo: Singleton Fire and Rescue NSW/Rev Thomas Chirackal/Facebook

Crews had mopped up and were heading home when another callout was made about 11.25pm, this time to a levee bank behind a real estate on John St.

A fire near Cook Park and two more blazes in Civic Park were also lit, with all five blazes near the banks of the Hunter River.

Fire crews were called to a series of fires across Singleton overnight on October 4, including one where four buildings at an old Catholic school were destroyed. Photo: Singleton Fire and Rescue NSW/Rev Thomas Chirackal/Facebook

At 12.15am, emergency services were called to the old Catholic school on Patrick St, where fire crews battled blazes in four demountable buildings.

All were destroyed.

Two hours later, crews were also needed to extinguish a blaze on the other side of the river on Darlington Rd with fears it could impact a nearby cement works.

It was contained to about a hectare of scrub

Hunter Valley crime manager Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer said detectives were investigating links to all the fires.

“We are calling for information from the community regarding these fires,’’ Det Insp Zimmer said.

“If anyone has information or has dashcam footage around the area at the time of the blazes, we would ask them to contact Singleton police or Crime Stoppers.’’