BY IAN CROUCH
Firefighters have been kept busy overnight with separate house fires in the Hunter.
Crews were called to reports of a townhouse well alight on Pirralea Parade at Nelson Bay just before 9.30pm on Monday, arriving to find flames through the roof.
There were concerns for 2 occupants, but they were found safe and well.
Firefighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading to the adjoining townhouse where 5 people were evacuated.
Police have set up a crime scene as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
Meanwhile, fire has destroyed an unoccupied granny flat at the rear of a property in Marsden Street Shortland.
Firefighters from Mayfield West, Wallsend and Lambton responded to 10 triple-oh calls just after midnight.
An adjoining car port was also damaged.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
