House and shed destroyed as Bellbird fire crews handle six call-outs in a day

newy.com.au – Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Bellbird responded to six incidents in Wollombi, Bellbird and Cessnock on Friday 5 December 2025, including two fires that destroyed a house and a shed.

Fire and Rescue NSW Station 220 Bellbird told it’s followes that its pump and tanker were paged repeatedly from just after 2am through to about 9.20pm, describing it as “a busy day for our crew yesterday attending 6 different incidents throughout the day!” and using the run of call-outs as a reminder for residents to review their bushfire and electrical safety.

The first incident came at 2.04am, when the station’s pump and tanker were sent to a house fire at Wollombi to assist NSW Rural Fire Service crews from the Hunter Valley. The station said firefighters donned breathing apparatus on arrival and began working to extinguish the blaze, but the house was totally destroyed by fire.

As the crew returned to station around 5am, the Bellbird pump was dispatched to an ambulance assist in Cessnock at 5.02am. On arrival, firefighters were told their assistance was no longer required and they returned to station.

At 8.32am, the tanker was paged to a building fire in Bellbird after multiple calls to 000 reported a structure alight. The station said crews arrived to find “a large shed fully involved in fire” and moved quickly to ensure everyone was safe before focusing on extinguishing the blaze. Fire and Rescue NSW Station 254 Cessnock, Station 202 Abermain and Station 418 Paxton also responded to assist, but the shed was totally destroyed.

The busiest period continued mid-afternoon when, at 2.43pm, the Bellbird pump was called to what was initially reported as a house fire in Cessnock, again with multiple 000 calls received. Firefighters were told a trailer next to a house was fully alight and the flames had started to spread to the adjoining home. When the Bellbird crew arrived, they found their colleagues from Station 254 Cessnock had already extinguished the fire, preventing any further spread to the house.

The station said the house was checked using a thermal imaging camera to confirm there was no further fire spread. The contents of the trailer were totally destroyed, and the house received minor smoke and heat damage.

At 3.38pm, as crews were returning from that incident, the pump was again paged for an ambulance assist in Cessnock. On this occasion, firefighters were required and worked with NSW Ambulance paramedics to help a patient before returning to station.

The final job of the day came at 9.20pm, when the pump was sent to reports of an unknown fire in Cessnock. The station said crews investigated the area and confirmed it was smoke haze drifting through from surrounding fires, before returning to station for what they described as “some much needed rest!”

Station 220 Bellbird said the series of incidents was “a timely reminder to: Have your Bushfire Plan ready!” and urged residents to take simple precautions around the home. “Ensure when charging lithium ion batteries, only charge them until they are fully charged and then remove them off charge. Also only use genuine chargers that come with the product and charge them while you are home to monitor them!” the station said.

Firefighters also reminded people not to overload powerboards and to give emergency vehicles room to move. “When you see us responding to an incident, DO NOT PANIC, move to the left and slow down to allow us to pass,” the station said.

Residents were also reminded to call 000 in an emergency as crews continue to respond to fires and other incidents across the Cessnock and Hunter region.