Factory fire at Tweed Heads
Published: 4th September 2008
This morning firefighters from Tweed Heads and Tweed River responded to a Triple Zero call to a 'shed alight' at Ourimbah Rd, Tweed Heads. On arrival firefighters were confronted with large volumes of thick, black smoke coming from a factory unit occupied by a surfboard manufacturer. Because the factory had been closed, the heat was intense and the heavy fire load of polystyrene surfboard blanks was producing a thick, black smoke, limiting visibility. Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus and carrying fire hoses gained access and used a thermal imaging camera to locate the seat of the fire. Quick actions by fire crews prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining units. The fire was extinguished within one and a half hours and firefighters assisted with clean up work. There was extensive fire damage to the structure and contents of the surfboard factory and smoke and water damage to two adjoining factory units. The cause of the fire is being investigated.