Emergency services have contained a suspicious bush fire that burned near the Hunter Expressway at Buchanan, west of Cessnock, overnight.
The fire was reported at approximately 6.14pm on Saturday, 10 January 2026, and is estimated to have burned around 8 hectares.
The NSW Rural Fire Service managed the incident. At the time, the fire was listed at an Advice alert level, with no immediate threat to life.
The blaze occurred near the Hunter Expressway at Buchanan (2323), with smoke visible in the area during the incident and brief impacts to passing motorists.
Video from the scene shows a single vehicle on the side of the expressway fully engulfed in flames. It remains unknown whether the vehicle fire sparked the surrounding bush fire, however authorities have confirmed it will form part of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency crews have since cleared the scene, and there is no current emergency response. Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing.
Further updates will be provided if more information becomes available.