A huge fireball has erupted over Sydney, blowing a chemical tank into the air and raining concrete down on hundreds of firefighters below.
Firefighters are battling an inferno that has destroyed a waste facility factory in Sydney, Australia, razing buildings and blowing a chemical tank 150 metres into the air. New South Wales Fire said that the explosion saw “fist-sized” chunks of concrete and other debris rain down on first responders.
Pictures captured by NSW Ambulance first responders show the moment the night sky went from black to bright orange as the fireball exploded over the western Sydney suburb of North St Mary’s. More than 200 firefighters are battling the blaze, which broke out just before 11pm local time in Sydney.
Firefighters worked to establish numerous lines of defence to fight the blaze from all angles. Crews on the ground took advantage of the holes blown out of neighbouring buildings, with other fire trucks pumping water by relay to douse the flames, while aerial crews took on inferno from above.
NSW Fire confirmed that crews contained the inferno at about 8am local time, Fire deployed a total of five aerial crews to assist alongside firefighters from across Sydney, the Rural Fire Service, and regional crews.
Specialist HAZMAT officers have also descended on the scene in the wake of the fireball explosion which blew up a chemical tank. HAZMAT specialists will deal with the chemicals being consumed in the fire, alongside officers from the Environment Protection Authority, who are also on scene.
A raft of first responders from NSW Police and NSW Ambulance are also in attendance. A NSW Ambulance spokesperson confirmed paramedics will remain at the scene as the blaze continues to burn.
“NSW Ambulance paramedics remain at the scene the cause of the fire remains unknown and is expected to burn for the hours to come of a factory fire as firefighting operations continue. Two patients were assessed at the scene but didn’t require further treatment,” the spokesperson said.
Both were firefighters who suffered minor burns to their hands in fighting the blaze.