Shop fire in Auburn

Published: 17th March 2009

Numerous Triple Zero (000) calls were received in the early hours of this morning to a shop on fire in South Parade, Auburn. Firefighters from Lidcombe, Silverwater, Guilford, Chester Hill, Parramatta, Rydalmere, Merrylands, Bankstown, Hazmat specialists from Greenacre and two Duty Commanders responded to the emergency with the first crews on scene in eight minutes. Fire crews were confronted with a group of three shops with residences above and two shops totally engulfed in flames. Initial reports suggested that people were trapped in the residences above the fire. Fire crews began a search of the heavily smoke logged residences while other crews commenced an attack on the fire. All occupants were accounted for as the fire was brought under control and extinguished. The shops suffered extensive damage and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.