AUSTRALIA – Major Chemical Waste Blaze in North St Marys Sparks Explosion
A large industrial fire at a waste-management site on Kurrajong Road in North St Marys late Saturday night triggered one of western Sydney’s biggest emergency responses in recent years. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), the EPA, police and ambulance services remain on scene.
The Incident
Shortly before 11 pm, flames were reported inside the facility, which is believed to store chemical products and industrial waste. The situation escalated rapidly:
- A huge fireball rose roughly 150 metres into the air
- A chemical tank was blasted upward by the explosion
- Concrete debris rained down around responding crews
More than 200 firefighters and over 50 emergency units — including hazmat specialists, aerial teams and bulk-water carriers — were deployed. Two firefighters suffered minor hand injuries, but no serious casualties have been reported.
Burning chemicals are expected to keep parts of the site smouldering for many hours or possibly days.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Residents near Kurrajong Road are being urged to:
- Stay away from the area
- Keep windows and doors shut due to potentially hazardous smoke
Authorities are monitoring the plume using drones fitted with chemical sensors. The EPA is also investigating whether toxic runoff or airborne pollutants may have impacted surrounding land or waterways.
A 200-metre exclusion zone has been set up around the site.
Investigation
Fire investigators and police have begun examining the scene, but the source of the blaze has not yet been identified. It also remains unclear exactly what chemicals or waste materials were stored within the facility — a key factor in determining long-term risks.
The FRNSW Commissioner called the incident “one of the most serious industrial fires we’ve confronted in western Sydney,” while firefighters described dodging debris and battling volatile, chemical-fuelled flames.
Photo credit: Sydney Emergency Facebook. All rights reserved.