Wild moment captured as burning Sydney building collapses
Sydney has been brought to a standstill after a major fire broke out in the CBD on Thursday night.
Firefighters fought to control the blaze, which erupted on Randall Street in Surry Hills, shocking commuters at the neighbouring Central Station.
The fire broke out at 4pm, and was later upgraded to a ‘10th alarm’, the most severe type of fire.
Bystanders watched on as the multi-storey became engulfed in flames, as the building collapsed and "shook the ground".
One firefighter sustained a minor burn, but no major injuries or fatalities were reported.
Fire and Rescue NSW said in a press conference that the blaze is now under control, after firefighters battled the inferno for several hours.
Superintendent Adam Dewberry said 20 fire trucks were at the scene to contain the fire, which threatened to spread to nearby apartment blocks in the tightly-packed inner city street.
Police said it is “way too early” to determine if the fire was deliberately lit, with an investigation to be launched as soon as firefighters clear the scene.
“More than 100 firefighters were called to the scene from multiple stations across Sydney and have been battling the flames from a safe distance,” a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) spokesman said.
“Using specialist appliances and equipment, including ladder trucks and RPAS (drones), they successfully stopped the blaze from engulfing other nearby buildings, including residential apartments."
“A short time ago, FRNSW’s Incident Controller declared the fire is contained."
“Firefighting operations are expected to continue throughout the night, with crews to be rotated through to ensure their safety and wellbeing."
“An exclusion zone remains in place with the public urged to avoid the area."
The city was brought to a standstill at peak hour travel times, as roads and public transport were affected but the blaze.
One witness said, “It’s actually quite wild out on the streets, people everywhere and ash falling from the sky. Firefighters blocked off Elizabeth St, while shocked commuters lined the street.”
“A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area,” another witness said. “The building looks like the bottom of a fire pit.”
Image credits: Twitter