COOLER weather has brought a small reprieve for fire fighters across the Hunter.
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The hot, dry conditions on Tuesday saw several blazes break out across the region, as fire conditions reached extreme levels in the valley.
A fire near Freemans Waterhole shut the M1 Pacific Motorway for a short time just after 3pm.
Strong winds had pushed the fire in an north-easterly direction, prompting property threat warnings for residents Wakefield Road, McCanns Road and Miller Road. Fire crews gained the upper hand overnight and the bushfire was downgraded to advice level late in the evening.
The fire, which burnt through more than 170 hectares, is contained to the Wakefield area now. Crews worked through the night, shutting Wakefield Road between Palmers and Miller Road, to complete backburning and secure containment lines.
Smoke and fire activity is still causing trouble for motorists on the M1. Motorists are asked to drive to the conditions and stay up-to-date with any further lane closure via Live Traffic online.
While the cooler conditions have seen fire warning levels downgraded across the region, the wind still poses a challenge for crews trying to contain the spread of embers.
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