‘Difficult’ fire rips through wrecking yard

A wrecking yard located only blocks away from a busy Sydney airport has gone up in flames, with firefighters desperately battling to control the blaze.

Emergency services were called to the structure on Fitzpatrick St in Revesby shortly after 2pm on Tuesday after reports of a fire at a wrecking yard.

More than 20 fire trucks, including three multiple specialist Aerial Pumpers with 24m ladders, were dispatched to the scene.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said fires at “wrecking yards can burn extremely hot and fast”.

“The extreme heat and potential to spread rapidly can make these types of fires difficult to contain,” he said.

“Our firefighters are working to tackle the fire and ensure that all people are accounted for.”

Supt Dewberry said firefighters have been able to cut off and contain the large fire and are now working to completely extinguish it, which will take a couple of hours.

“The warehouse is full of dismantled cars stacked on top of one another and it’s an extremely intense fire, threatening the adjoining properties,” Supt Dewberry said.

“Around 85 firefighters have come through here and around 25 fire trucks – everyone has been accounted for, so it’s just that thick black smoke going through and we’re getting on top of that now.”

“Now it’s a matter of continuing the fire fighting effort … but it’s going to be difficult because all the cars are stacked on top of one another and it’s going to be difficult to get them down safely – we won’t be able to, it’s going to be a matter of them burning out in those spots where we can’t get to them.”

Firefighters are still unclear what caused the fire but investigations are well underway.

It was categorised as an 8th Alarm emergency.

The wrecking yard is located only blocks away from Bankstown Airport, home to flight schools and recreational flights.

Images show the fire ruining the building and large plumes of dark smoke billowing out of the windows.

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