Destroyed Wickham buildings threatening to collapse - Wickham
Published: 02 Mar 2022 12:01am
Two large storage buildings, gutted by a massive fire yesterday in Newcastle, are at significant risk of collapse.
More than 100 Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters attacked the blaze after it broke out around 2.30pm in a four-storey former woolshed in Annie Street, Wickham.
The huge fire spread quickly, escalating to a "10th alarm" blaze, the highest category available, and engulfed a second, identical storage building next door.
Fire crews from 30 trucks successfully prevented the flames spreading to a third such auction house and an adjacent depot of fuel tanks, containing more than eight million litres of diesel and unleaded.
Firefighting operations are continuing overnight.
The exterior walls of the two gutted buildings are threatening to topple.
The blaze also released asbestos from the ceilings of the properties.
A number of houses and units had to be evacuated at the height of the fire and residents have sheltered in the Goodlife church in nearby Albert Street.
FRNSW is planning to begin a major clean-up this morning to ensure the area is safe for evacuees to return to their homes.
As firefighting efforts continue overnight, local residents are urged to keep windows and doors closed, and remain indoors where possible.
Fresh FRNSW footage of the fire can be found here:
https://vimeo.com/683280403/82d52c9744 [external link]
Updated: 30 Jan 2023 09:14pm
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