Bankstown factory fire

Published: 26th May 2006

Just after 3.30 am on 26 May 2006, the NSW Fire Brigades received triple zero calls reporting a food processing factory on fire in Bankstown. Three brigades were responded. When they arrived minutes later they found a single level brick industrial building well alight with adjacent property in danger. More assistance was requested and another five brigades were dispatched. 40 firefighters were committed to this incident.

Flames were coming through the roof and the concrete walls of the building were soon weakened by the intense heat and threatened to fall. A collapse zone was established around the building for the protection of firefighters as they fought to contain the fire to the factory. As two ladder trucks poured water onto the fire from above to protect neighbouring buildings, firefighters with hoses attacked the fire at street level. Within about an hour and a half fire crews had the fire under control and they were able to move closer to consolidate their attack.

Firefighters remained at the scene well into the day extinguishing pockets of fire in the extensively damaged building. There were no injuries.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the NSW Fire Brigades Fire Investigation and Research Unit and the Police.