Multiple triple zero calls stating houses were under threat alerted emergency services to the fire just before 11.30am. 

Fire and Rescue NSW Illawarra duty commander Inspector John Hawes said crews were initially called to a small grass fire burning between Robertson and Hixson streets.

Inspector Hawes said the fire was burning at the top of a hill and crews accessed it via Robertson Street. 

“Once the wind picked up it took hold of this fire and it started to blow it down towards Hixson [Street],” he said. 

The fire grew in size due to the lantana, overgrown bush and grass in the area, he said.

“I’ve got four trucks here in Hixson [Street], just to go straight into property protection mode,” he said.

“There’s been no impact on any of the houses, no evacuations and no injuries reported.

“I’ve got plenty of hose lines, plenty of water and we’re basically letting the fire burn down to us, because it’s just inaccessible.”  

David Grainger, a Hixson Street resident, told the Mercury he “wet the house down” as the fire approached.

Mr Grainger said the flames were initially being fanned towards houses south-east of the fire, before a wind change saw it move in a northeasterly direction, bringing it closer to his home.  

“The flames were probably five metres high in spots ... just when it hits a tree it just exploded and went up in flames,” he said.

“[It’s] not great when you live there and you’ve got a hose out the back trying to protect your house.

“I wet the house down, I put the hose out the back … until the fire brigade turned up.”

Mr Grainger said the fire came within about five metres of his back fence.

Crews managed to contain the fire about 12.50pm and are now working to black it out. 

12.30pm: Efforts are underway to protect four homes at Port Kembla after a grass fire broke out on Tuesday morning.

The fire is burning in the area around the Clearly Bros quarry, off Hixson Street.

It has burnt about six hectares of land in the area, which is surrounded by homes and industrial sites.

There are two Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) pumpers and one tanker at work in property protection mode.

Initial reports suggest there are embers blowing over houses in the area, although they are not impacting homes at this stage.

A FRNSW spokesman said while crews were in property protection mode, there were no homes under threat at this stage.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire just before 11.30am. 

More to come.