A large-scale grass fire that burned as many as seven hectares of bushland at Boolaroo yesterday afternoon saw several Hunter firefighters working alongside a water-bombing aircraft to bring the blaze under control.
The blaze broke out about 12.50pm yesterday afternoon, as firefighters from at least eight NSW Fire and Rescue trucks responded, with support from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Early reports indicated that the fire was being pushed under strong easterly and north-easterly winds on a baking day 25-degree day, initially up an hillside near Milburn Circuit and later down a gully.
The blaze rapidly expanded, a spokesperson for the state fire brigade said, as firefighters struggled to get access to the fire ground, and resorted to calling in air support.
By around 5pm, the spokesperson said, the fire was brought under control as crews and firefighting aircraft remained on the scene mopping up. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
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