Shopping centre fire in Mt Druitt
Published: 4th April 2009
A fire in a transformer activated the automatic fire alarm in a shopping centre in Carlisle Avenue, Mt Druitt late this morning. Firefighters from Mt Druitt, Dunheved, Huntingwood, Blacktown, Penrith, Schofields, Seven Hills, Northmead, Smithfield, Hazmat specialists from St Marys and the Duty Commander responded to the emergency with the first crews on scene in two minutes. The fire was in a roof transformer and the sprinkler and evacuation systems in the centre had operated. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire in less than half an hour but there was heavy smoke logging through the shopping centre. Approximately 6500 people evacuated during the incident. Firefighters ventilated the shopping centre and removed excess water from several shops to minimise further damage. Hazmat crews conducted air monitoring to ensure the area was safe before fire crews handed over the incident to the centre management.