An explosion at a western Sydney factory sent flames 150 metres towards the sky and a chemical tank soaring into the air as firefighters confronted one of the area’s biggest fires in recent years.
Fire and Rescue NSW were called to the Kurrajong Rd waste recycling facility at St Marys about 11pm on Saturday after reports of a fire, when a huge explosion sent concrete blocks and debris raining down on fire crews.
The explosion sent debris flying into the air.Credit: FRNSW
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries to their hands during the battle against the monster blaze.
The force of the explosion caused walls to cave in at neighbouring buildings, with 50 fire trucks and hundreds of firefighters putting themselves between the fire and nearby properties. The fire is now contained, but is expected to smoulder throughout Sunday.
“This is as big as fires get. Particularly the scale of that explosion, people will be talking about that for a long time,” FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said.
Fewtrell said a significant range of different chemicals was fuelling the fire. Hazardous materials officers are on scene and locals are urged to keep their doors and windows closed to avoid the effects of harmful smoke.
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