Residents of The Hill in Newcastle were confronted by a series of loud noises, like explosions, late on Friday night, June 30, as firefighters were called to extinguish a car that had caught fire in the suburb.
A spokesman for the state's fire brigade said on Saturday that crews were called to the blaze about at about 9.10pm in parkland off Nesca Parade and remained there for more than an hour as they first worked to get access to the scene and then to extinguish the vehicle.
Residents reported hearing sounds like gunshots and then a heavy smell of burning rubber as the tyres burst, but there were no reports of injuries.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident overnight, police reported a 12-year-old Taree boy had been found safe after a search was called when he could not be contacted in Monday, June 26.
Officers attached to the Manning Lakes Police District released a statement late Friday night reporting the boy had been found that afternoon.
