A Lake Macquarie shopping centre was temporarily closed on Sunday afternoon after a small fire broke out in a cafe. Firefighters were called to Watagan Park Central in Cooranbong at approximately 3:30pm on December 28 following reports of a fire at The Shed Cafe.
Crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW responded to the incident. Firefighters reported smoke coming from behind a wall, prompting the temporary closure of the recently-opened shopping centre as a precaution.
Shoppers were advised to avoid the area while emergency services responded. The centre reopened later in the afternoon, but the cafe remained closed for follow-up works.
In a social media statement, Watagan Park Central expressed gratitude for the quick response and confirmed that everyone was safe. The shopping centre had officially opened to shoppers on December 10.
