FIREFIGHTERS have extinguished three separate fires in the Hunter that began in a three-hour window late on Wednesday.
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Flames consumed several hectares of bush in Beresfield, Teralba and Tenambit overnight, offering an ominous signal as the bushfire season ramps up.
None of the fires threatened property.
Fire and Rescue NSW officers were forced to approach the Teralba fire on foot after it sparked near Five Islands Road about 6.25pm in a stretch of bush that was difficult to reach.
Crews used a portable davey pump to extinguish the fire, putting it out shortly after 7.30pm after it scorched about 100 square metres.
The Teralba grass fire followed two blazes on the outskirts of Maitland, with about four hectares burning at Tenambit from 4.30pm before the fire was knocked down.
The largest blaze ate through 12 hectares of bushland on the New England Highway near John Renshaw Drive at Beresfield, pouring smoke over the busy motorways and requiring 12 firefighting crews and two bulk water tankers.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokeswoman said it appeared a burned-out car in bushland had caused the fire, which Roads and Maritime Services reported had closed southbound lanes of John Renshaw Drive until about 1am.
