Workers evacuated and road closed as grass fire burns in industrial suburb

Motorists are warned to avoid Tomago on Monday afternoon because of a grass fire burning near WesTrac Newcastle.

NSW Fire and Rescue received several calls at 12.45pm that a fire was burning across Tomago Road and Graham Drive and near Masonite Road.

WesTrac has evacuated its staff as a precaution.

A spokesman for NSW Fire and Rescue said people were advised to avoid the area and that they should visit the NSW Rural Fire Service website for emergency information.

Five fire trucks are fighting the blaze, and another two are expected to arrive shortly.

The fire is being controlled and is burning in a north-eastern direction towards Masonite Road.

The NSW RFS has advised people in the vicinity of Tomago Road and Masonite Road to prepare now.

Temperatures in Newcastle and the Hunter soared above 30 degrees on Monday, and wind gusts of up to 53 kilometres per hour created unseasonably bad fire conditions.