The fire continues to burn at Buchanan. 

All westbound lanes on the Hunter Expressway have now been shut.  motorists are being detoured via John Renshaw Drive.

UPDATE 1.25PM:

More than 70 firefighters are at the scene of a five-hectare bushfire at Buchanan, near Cessnock.

Hunter Rural Fire Service inspector Glenn Byrnes said about 15 firefighting vehicles were at the scene near Avery’s Lane, between John Renshaw Drive and the Hunter Expressway.

Two helicopters are water bombing the fire, which is at the “advice” warning level.

Inspector Byrnes said there were no properties at risk, as of 1pm, and firefighters had made good progress in extinguishing the blaze.

The fire began as temperatures reached 39 degrees in the Hunter and strong, hot north westerly winds hit the region.

“The wind can be a hindrance but crews have been working quite well,” he said.

“However, the wind is stirring embers up in remote areas and causing spot fires.”

A fire investigator has been dispatched to the fire ground to try to determine what sparked the blaze.

EARLIER:

Emergency crews are at the scene of a bushfire at Stanford Merthyr, near Cessnock.

Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the hard-to-reach location on Thursday morning.

A helicopter firefighting crew has also been enlisted to help extinguish the blaze.

It is unknown whether the fire presents a threat to properties.

It came after a total fire ban was declared for the Hunter because of high temperatures and wind predicted for the region on Thursday.