UPDATE: A catastrophic fire and explosion erupted at a waste-management facility on Kurrajong Road in North St Marys late Saturday night, igniting one of the largest emergency responses seen in western Sydney in recent years. The incident unfolded just before 11 PM on October 14, 2023, as flames, reaching up to 150 metres high, engulfed the facility.
The blaze quickly escalated, with a large chemical tank being propelled into the sky amid a massive fireball. This forced over 200 firefighters, including specialized hazmat teams and aerial units, to rush to the scene from across Greater Sydney. Authorities reported that more than 50 units were deployed to combat the inferno, which has resulted in minor injuries to two firefighters. Fortunately, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries have been reported.
The situation remains critical as officials from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), police, and ambulance services are still on-site. Although crews have managed to contain the fire, hazardous chemicals burning at the facility may prolong the emergency for hours or even days.
“This is one of the most serious industrial blazes we’ve seen in western Sydney,” said the FRNSW Commissioner.
Residents in the vicinity are being urged to avoid the area and to keep windows and doors shut to prevent inhalation of potentially harmful smoke. Drones equipped with chemical sensors are actively mapping the dispersion of smoke and toxins, while the EPA investigates the possibility of environmental contamination.
A 200-metre exclusion zone has been established around the facility, causing significant traffic disruptions. Motorists traveling west from Penrith into Sydney’s outer west are advised to seek alternate routes. Major roads including Kurrajong Road and surrounding connectors are either closed or heavily congested as emergency vehicles continue to mobilize.
Commuters are warned to allow extra travel time or avoid traveling through St Marys. Local businesses in the surrounding suburbs are encouraged to postpone operations, particularly those that depend on deliveries affected by the incident.
Fire investigators and police are conducting a thorough probe into the cause of the fire, but as of now, no definitive explanation has been confirmed. The precise nature of the chemicals and waste materials stored at the facility remains unclear, posing a critical factor in assessing long-term health and environmental risks.
If you are in the area, check live traffic updates and avoid Kurrajong Road and nearby industrial zones until authorities have cleared the area. If you have experienced any smoke damage or water runoff, document it for your insurance claims, but wait for the “all-clear” from officials before entering restricted zones.
If you witnessed the fire or have dashcam or phone footage, authorities urge you to contact Crime Stoppers, as your footage may aid in the investigation into the cause of this devastating incident.
As developments unfold, stay tuned for further updates on this urgent situation.
