Violent explosion during St Marys fire described as ‘once in a career type of experience’

The violent explosion that showered firefighters with chunks of concrete and building debris as they battled a blaze at a chemical recycling business in Sydney’s west has been described as a “once in a career type of experience”.

The inferno-like fire broke out at Kurrajong Street in North St Marys overnight, generating immense heat and a huge eruption that spewed a fireball more than 100 metres up into the sky. 

“I have never seen anything like that, to that degree,” Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said.

“I’ve had firefighters today tell me they’ve been in the job for almost forty years and had never seen an explosion fire so big, so it was very significant.”

The fire took hold at the chemical collection and recycling business on Kurrajong Street just before 11pm on Sunday.  (Supplied: FRNSW)

More than 50 fire units and hundreds of firefighters from across Western Sydney arrived at the scene just before 11pm. By that stage the fire had taken hold and the area was shrouded in smoke.

Despite the initial efforts of firefighters, the fire grew rapidly and shortly after it exploded.

“There was a large amount of debris that got showered down on the firefighters, as well as clumps of bricks and concrete that have been blown apart from the explosion,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

“We had walls — the boundary walls of the adjoining properties — blown in, and then we had firefighters in a very intensive fire fight inside the neighbouring premises trying to stop the fire from penetrating those breaches.”

More than 50 fire units and hundreds of firefighters were sent to the scene. (Supplied: Jeremy Fewtrell)

Just two firefighters were injured, suffering skin irritations after making contact with chemicals that seeped through their gloves.

They were assessed by paramedics at the scene and did not require hospitalisation.

“The real miracle was the fact that all of our people were able to stay safe through that very intense explosion,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

By late Sunday afternoon, the building had been destroyed. The walls of the neighbouring business had been “blown apart”, with firefighters managing to save what was inside.

Vision from the scene showed the fire was still smouldering, with plumes of dark smoke billowing out.

Firefighters were showered with chunks of concrete and building debris. (ABC News)

Good fire fighting kept crews safe

A combination of good firefighting judgement and commanders using their expertise to identify risks, have been credited for protecting crews.

“There was a storage tank that was sent as a projectile, that went almost 200 metres and fell just short of the railway line,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

“One of the ladder platforms of the cherry pickers that we use had just 10 minutes earlier relocated and moved probably about another 30 or 40 metres further back.

“And that definitely kept them out of the worst of it and so were able to withstand the impact of explosion and keep them safe.”

A chemical tank was flung into the air during the blast. (Supplied: Jeremy Fewtrell)

Hazardous materials crews remain on scene securing chemical substances. 

The Environment Protection Agency, along with fire investigators and NSW Police are also there as the detailed investigation into the cause begins.

“Over the course of today and coming days the fire investigators and police will be compiling all that information and to make an assessment on how this may have started,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

“It may be that we’re not able to, we’ll just see what evidence and information is available, piece it all together with the work of fire investigators and police to try and come to a determination on the cause.”

Fie crews say the fire will take a few days to be completely put out.