Firefighters have not been able to completely extinguish a massive fire that broke out in a row of shops in a builidng in Sydney’s south on Tuesday.
Due to concerns about the stability of the building, firefighters haven’t been able to enter the complex to extinguish the fire.
“It’s expected this could take several hours to complete,” Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement.
The fire broke out above a Cash Converters in Rockdale on Geeves Ave, near the Princes Highway, at around 11.30am before ripping through several shops on the upper level of the building, firefighters said.
“We are getting on top of it, but it’s difficult to extinguish because the fire keeps getting through into concealed spaces in the iron roof,” NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.
“It was a significant fire, quite complex, as we’ve got a number of occupancies so close together and they are older, decades old.
“We’ve had a fire in one of the areas that’s spread to adjoining premises.”
Four people were evacuated from the blaze, covered in ash and soot from the fire, according to witnesses.
Paramedics assessed the four and another person for smoke inhalation and treated at the scene, but did not take them to hospital.
“It was massive, the biggest fire I’ve seen,” witness Jack Luland told NCA NewsWire.
“Within five minutes the whole street was blanketed by black smoke.”
The initial 12 fire trucks and 45 firefighters sent were not enough to contain the blaze, with more having to be sent to extinguish the fire.
In the end, 16 firetrucks and 70 firefighters were on the scene responding to the fire.
Firefighters are concerned with the structural integrity of one of the walls within the building and will continue to assess what exact damage has been done.
The Princes Highway is still closed in both directions between Bay St and Bestic St, three hours after the fire started.
Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and expect delays, with buses 422, 478 and 479 having their routes diverted.
Firefighters are yet to determine the exact cause of the blaze and will determine whether there are any people missing.
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