Police have issued a warning as huge plumes of black smoke billow from a factory fire in the NSW Hunter region.
The fire at the Weston Aluminium site in Kurri Kurri started just before 11am but has now spread to multiple large buildings and is being fanned by strong winds.
The site is used for multiple purposes, including processing aluminium slag, incinerating medical waste and storing items like hand sanitiser, paint and other chemicals — which are now fuelling the inferno.
Twenty fire crews are at the scene and extra pumps from Sydney are being called in.
The business was closed today and its owner Garbis Simonian said he believed he was the victim of an arson attack, targeting hand sanitiser being stored alongside a factory building.
But police said at this stage the cause of the fire was unknown.
The building is believed to have been unoccupied at the time, and no injuries have been reported.
Local traffic diversions are in place and police are warning anyone who suffers from respiratory conditions to avoid the area.
Delays are expected and motorists are urged to avoid the area where possible.
