Shop Explosion and Fire, Belmore
Published: 20th January 2006
Just before 8pm on 19 January 2006, the NSW Fire Brigades received Triple Zero calls reporting an explosion and smoke issuing from a shop in Belmore. Fire crews from Lakemba, Campsie and Burwood were immediately responded.
The Lakemba crew was on the scene within five minutes and found large volumes of smoke issuing from the rear of a two level brick commercial building. An additional crew was sent from Bankstown, a ladder truck from Revesby and a rescue unit from Hurstville. A total of 20 firefighters was committed to this incident.
Having established that the residents of a unit above the shop had evacuated, fire crews donned air cylinders to attack a fierce blaze in a room at the back of the ground floor. Firefighters forced their way into the room and prevented the fire from spreading throughout the building.
Within 15 minutes of the call fire crews had the fire contained to the room of origin. This area of the business was severely damaged by the fire and there was evidence that an explosion had occurred. There were no reports of injuries.
The NSW Fire Brigades and the Police are investigating suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.