A fire has engulfed and completely gutted a multi-storey building in central Sydney, casting a huge pall of dark smoke across the city.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze on Thursday afternoon after the building was evacuated.
‘The building is currently totally engulfed in flames,’ a NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman said.
‘We don’t know what’s caused it … we’re working to contain the source but it’s threatening adjoining buildings.’
The fire has been classified as a 10th alarm status by NSW Fire and Rescue – the most serious level.
Speaking at a press conference, Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said ‘it’s far too early’ to know the cause of the blaze and they will investigate further tonight.
‘The state of play at the moment is the fire is effectively contained to the buildings it was involved in,’ he said.
‘Fire and Rescue firefighters together with NSW Police had a very significant effort in the early stages to evacuate those surrounding buildings and get people out to safety.
‘I’m pleased to report that there has been no indication of any injuries to members of the public.
Around 25 fire trucks and more than 100 firefighters are at the building working to contain the blaze.
One witness to the fire, which is said to be the biggest seen in Sydney since 1968 – 55 years ago – said ‘it was like a war zone’.
Dramatic vision emerged on Thursday showing a building ablaze in Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, on the southern edge of Sydney’s CBD.
Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below.
The seven-storey building is surrounded by dozens of other high rises, which are now also at risk of catching alight.
A car parked out the front of the building is also on fire in what is being described as one of the biggest out-of-control fires in living memory.
One witness told Daily Mail Australia: ‘We’ve all evacuated. The smoke turned to fire so quickly. It was an empty building we think.
Part of Sydney’s Central Station is seen directly behind a seven-storey building on fire
Emergency vehicles are pictured attending to an enormous blaze in central Sydney
An massive inferno is burning down a building next to Sydney’s busiest train station – and has already spread to a nearby apartment complex and at least one car on the street outside
The entire seven-storey building (pictured) in central Sydney was ablaze on Thursday
Almost every room of the building is on fire, while walls and the roof are collapsing onto the street below
A building has caught alight in Sydney ‘s CBD, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky
The huge blaze has since spread to a second building and is threatening a residential apartment block nearby
Sydney’s skyline (pictured) is a haze of red due to the fire near Central Station
Shocking vision emerged on Thursday afternoon showing the building on Randle Lane, on the corner of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, burning
‘The size of the flames is incredible and the heat coming from it. Awful. It must be affecting our building across the road from it now for sure but we’ve been moved so far away we can’t see.’
Fire crews remain on the scene and are attempting to get the blaze under control. They’re dousing surrounding buildings in water in an attempt to stem the spread of the blaze.
The fire is believed to have started on the third floor and rapidly spread about 4pm on Thursday.
A utility vehicle is pictured on fire beside the blazing building in Sydney
As darkness fell, people are pictured looking on as the fire is tackled
A fire officer is seen up a ladder fighting the blaze in central Sydney on Thursday
Around 25 fire engines and 100 fire officers are reported to be fighting the blaze
Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of a building fire in Sydney, Thursday, May 25, 2023
Bricks are strewn across the street and one witness said ‘the building looks like the bottom of a fire pit’ as it continues to crumble.
Trains to and from Central Station are still currently running, while surrounding streets have been blocked off to traffic.
A man who lives nearby said his sister rang him and asked if he knew there was a fire.
‘I said nah, I can’t see anything or smoke, and she sent me a photograph and it was a massive fire,’ he said.
‘As I came outside to have a look the street was blocked off and then policeman grabbed me and said you gotta go up the road.
‘While I’ve been standing out here the wall actually collapsed and that was pretty scary. It was just a big thump.’
More to come
The roof of a building is shown collapsing due to a raging inferno in Sydney on Thursday
Daily Mail Australia understands the entire roof has been destroyed so far, and there are concerns among workers in the area that the fire will spread to surrounding buildings
People are pictured keeping their distance from a burning building beside Central Station in Sydney
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