A massive chemical factory explosion has rocked Western Sydney, sending toxic smoke billowing across suburbs and triggering a major emergency response that continued through the night.
Emergency Response to Industrial Blaze
Emergency services were first alerted to the dangerous fire at a waste management facility on Kurrajong Street in North St Mary's around 10.50pm on Saturday night. The initial reports quickly escalated as explosions began rocking the industrial area.
Footage from the scene captured terrifying fireballs and multiple explosions shooting into the night sky. The blasts were so powerful that residents as far away as Penrith reported feeling the shockwaves from the massive detonations.
Nearly 200 firefighters from across Sydney raced to the scene to confront the inferno, which NSW Police warned was expected to remain active for a considerable amount of time due to the intensity of the blaze and the chemicals involved.
Toxic Dangers and Safety Warnings
NSW Fire and Rescue expressed serious concerns that the blaze was being fuelled by toxic chemicals stored at the facility. Authorities immediately issued urgent safety instructions for local residents.
"We're urging people to stay away from the scene and close their windows, doors and vents during the emergency to avoid harmful smoke," a Fire and Rescue spokesperson stated.
A 200-metre exclusion zone was established around the factory as emergency services worked to contain the situation. Police have advised motorists to completely avoid the area while the operation continues.
The fire reached staggering heights, with flames spotted as high as 150 metres above the factory at the peak of the emergency. In one particularly dangerous moment, a large chemical tank shot into the air, raining fist-sized chunks of concrete blocks onto firefighters below.
Community Impact and Ongoing Concerns
While the only reported injuries so far have been minor hand injuries sustained by firefighters, local residents expressed deep concern about living in close proximity to the hazardous materials warehouse.
"I'm definitely scared, especially living very close to the fire," one North St Mary's resident told 7NEWS.
Another local described the experience as "terrifying" and expressed sympathy for the emergency crews, saying he "feels bad for the firefighters at the scene right now."
HAZMAT crews and the Environment Protection Authority have joined the emergency response effort, focusing on managing the environmental impact of the toxic chemicals being consumed in the fire.
Investigations into what caused the initial blaze are expected to be launched once the fire is fully extinguished. Police have urged anyone with information, including those with dashcam or mobile phone footage, to contact Crime Stoppers.
