Hunter Rural Fire Service inspector Glenn Byrnes said about 15 firefighting vehicles were at the scene near Avery’s Lane, between John Renshaw Drive and the Hunter Expressway.

Two helicopters are water bombing the fire, which is at the “advice” warning level.

Inspector Byrnes said there were no properties at risk, as of 1pm, and firefighters had made good progress in extinguishing the blaze.

The fire began as temperatures reached 39 degrees in the Hunter and strong, hot north westerly winds hit the region.

“The wind can be a hindrance but crews have been working quite well,” he said.

“However, the wind is stirring embers up in remote areas and causing spot fires.”

A fire investigator has been dispatched to the fire ground to try to determine what sparked the blaze.

The fire emerged before 11am in a hard to reach area near Cessnock as the mercury creeps towards 40 degrees.

Police said a child care centre had been evacuated to a nearby bowling club as a precaution.

Residents were also being spoken to about voluntarily evacuating.

A police spokesman said there were no forced evacuations.

The Hunter is under a total fire ban on Thursday, with temperatures soaring over 30 degrees in several areas by 9am.