Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has deployed more than 100 firefighters and 30 firetrucks to battle a major blaze underway at Newcastle this afternoon.

Shortly before 3.20pm on Tuesday 1 March, emergency services were called to a storage facility on Annie Street, Wickham.

Firefighters – from 260 Newcastle, 252 Carrington, 357 Lambton, 376 Merewether, 462 Mayfield West, 255 Charlestown, 251 Cardiff, 377 Minmi, 500 Tingira Heights, 454 Tarro, 498 Holmesville, 458 Teralba, 341 Kariong, 228 Berkeley Vale, 485 Wangi Wangi, 447 Swansea, 292 Doyalson, 434 Hamlyn Terrace, 373 East Maitland and 484 Wallsend – have set up an exclusion zone for safety as the fire tears through a four-storey mega warehouse.

A huge plume of smoke is visible in the area.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command have also evacuated residents and businesses along Annie Street, Milford Street, The Avenue and part of Robert Street as a precaution.

Several surrounding roads are closed, with motorists being urged to avoid the suburb while the operation remains underway.

Electrical and gas authorities have been contacted to isolate the utilities, too.

An adjoining oil terminal is being monitored and protected by crews on scene.

Residents in the area are urged to take the following precautions:

• Anyone with respiratory conditions should limit their exposure to smoke outdoors – if shortness of breath occurs, take reliever medicine or seek medical assistance
• Ensure windows and doors are closed to prevent smoke infiltration; and
• Removing any washing from clotheslines

FRNSW Acting Superintendent Mathew Sigmund said it was a timely reminder that calling Triple Zero (000) for a fire emergency could be the difference between life and death, or a building or other property being saved or destroyed.

“The Triple Zero (000) service is the quickest way to get the right resources to help you,” he stated.

“It should be used to contact police, fire or ambulance services in life-threatening or time-critical situations.”

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