Firefighters from Stockton, Mayfield West and Carrington responded to a chemical spill at an industrial premises in Kooragang on Tuesday that also required the response of the hazardous materials response team from Newcastle. Twenty workers were evacuated while fire crews in chemical suits and breathing apparatus worked to contain and neutralise the spill of about 500 litres.

Firefighters were called to numerous building fires during the week. Last Wednesday, a fire in the garage area of a Charlestown house was contained and extinguished by crews from Charlestown, Tingira Heights and Cardiff. Fast action prevented the fire spreading to the rest of the house. On Thursday, firefighters from Swansea, Belmont, Tingira Heights and Charlestown responded to a two-storey house alight in Caves Beach. The fire took just over an hour to fully extinguish.

Hunter area fire crews have also been responded to multiple kitchen fires over the last few weeks. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in NSW, so always "keep looking when cooking" and make sure loose items, curtains, fabrics, tea towels and flammables are kept away from the stove.

For more kitchen fire safety tips, go to www.fire.nsw.gov.au