People, animals, homes and businesses were all put at needless risk last Wednesday as a raging bushfire annihilated more than 700 hectares of land in the Kurri Kurri area.

Accounts from residents and business owners have surfaced detailing the lucky escapes that were fortunately the case across the board.

In the 40-plus degree heat, brave firefighters – from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW – saved every home and business that came under threat of the fast-moving and erratic inferno, and no lives were lost.

But, as the mopping up began, investigators were furious that such a tremendous risk appeared to have been the result of a deliberately lit fire.

And it’s not the first Hunter bushfire thought to have been deliberately started recently. 

As the Advertiser went to press on Tuesday, another bushfire broke out in Kurri Kurri near the aquatic centre. Police responded swiftly and arrested a man.

Bushfires in South Cessnock in November and Abermain in December are also believed to be acts of arson.

The problem has attracted the attention of Strike Force Tronto – the NSW Police investigators specialising in bushfires.

Anyone who would knowingly put lives and property at serious risk by starting a bushfire – let alone in the middle of summer under sweltering, windy conditions – deserves to be caught and held responsible under the law.

On the other hand the courageous men and women – some of them volunteers – who risk their lives by jumping into a fire truck and heading towards trouble, while many others are being encouraged to go the other way, deserve our deep gratitude for the tireless and valuable contribution they make to keep our communities safe.

Recent events would also make one question why Fire and Rescue NSW would want to close Weston Fire Station.

All current Weston firefighters will be relocated to the new station at Abermain, which houses two trucks.

But the new station should be an expansion of services for the Abermain community. Instead it’s robbing Peter to pay Paul – and could result in great inconvenience to both brigades.