In an incident similar to one that occurred two weeks ago at Salamander Bay, an elderly driver crashed into a pharmacy at Maitland on Tuesday.
Fortunately, this time, no one inside the pharmacy was injured. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was released from the vehicle.
Hunter fire crews attended several large fires during the week.
Fires at Tighes Hill and Telarah technical colleges required major responses from crews to bring the blazes under control.
Fire Rescue NSW also conducted two large hazard reduction burns last week, at Gateshead and Adamstown Heights.
Autumn has provided ideal conditions for these burn-offs, with cooler temperatures, low moisture levels, and calm wind.
Fire Rescue NSW Bushfire Officer Matt Anderson said the burns were very successful in lowering fuel loads close to properties.
With the burgeoning weight crisis affecting the Australian population fire crews are being called with increasing regularity to help ambulance crews in carrying patients onto stretchers and into ambulances.
Frequently ambulance crews of two officers are unable to safely lift patients without help from a crew of four firefighters.
This past week fire crews assisted ambulance crews on 22 different occasions throughout Newcastle and the Hunter.
