Wild moment captured as burning Sydney building collapses
<p>Sydney has been brought to a standstill after a major fire broke out in the CBD on Thursday night. </p>
<p>Firefighters fought to control the blaze, which erupted on Randall Street in Surry Hills, shocking commuters at the neighbouring Central Station. </p>
<p>The fire broke out at 4pm, and was later upgraded to a ‘10th alarm’, the most severe type of fire.</p>
<p>Bystanders watched on as the multi-storey became engulfed in flames, as the building collapsed and "shook the ground". </p>
<p>One firefighter sustained a minor burn, but no major injuries or fatalities were reported. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">SURRY HILLS | Wall collapses as major fire engulfs seven-storey building. New video footage, released by FRNSW, shows the moment a wall from an engulfed building in Surry Hills came crashing down onto the street below. <a href="https://t.co/mZeYGg1Kox">pic.twitter.com/mZeYGg1Kox</a></p>
<p>— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) <a href="https://twitter.com/FRNSW/status/1661634790662209536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Fire and Rescue NSW said in a press conference that the blaze is now under control, after firefighters battled the inferno for several hours.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Massive fire engulfs building located in heart of Surry Hills, Sydney</p>
<p>Blaze catches on to neighbouring buildings as fire tenders fight <a href="https://t.co/PCPJMD2JET">pic.twitter.com/PCPJMD2JET</a></p>
<p>— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) <a href="https://twitter.com/nabilajamal_/status/1661656544537382912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p>“Using specialist appliances and equipment, including ladder trucks and RPAS (drones), they successfully stopped the blaze from engulfing other nearby buildings, including residential apartments."</p>
<p>“A short time ago, FRNSW’s Incident Controller declared the fire is contained."</p>
<p>“Firefighting operations are expected to continue throughout the night, with crews to be rotated through to ensure their safety and wellbeing."</p>
<p>“An exclusion zone remains in place with the public urged to avoid the area."</p>
<p>The city was brought to a standstill at peak hour travel times, as roads and public transport were affected but the blaze. </p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>“A tornado of black smoke has blanketed the area,” another witness said. “The building looks like the bottom of a fire pit.”</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>
