A massive explosion at a waste-processing facility in Sydney's west has left two firefighters injured and triggered a ferocious inferno that required over 200 emergency responders to contain. The blast, which sent a chemical tank soaring into the air and debris raining down, was felt miles away, shaking nearby suburbs like Penrith.
The fire erupted just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, at a chemical collection and recycling business on Kurrajong Road in North St Marys.
Flames quickly escalated, fueled by stored chemicals and industrial waste, producing a fireball that shot up to 150 meters into the sky.
Witnesses described the shockwave as powerful enough to rattle homes several kilometers away, with one resident in Penrith reporting feeling the vibrations.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews arrived swiftly, but the explosion hurled fist-sized chunks of concrete and building debris at responders, complicating efforts.
"I've had firefighters today tell me they've been in the job for almost forty years and had never seen an explosion fire so big, so it was very significant," said FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell.
He described the event as a "once in a career type of experience" and one of the largest industrial blazes in western Sydney in recent years.
More than 200 firefighters from across Greater Sydney, supported by over 50 fire units, five aerial platforms, and HAZMAT teams, battled the blaze through the night.
Drones were deployed to monitor air quality amid concerns over toxic smoke from the chemical-fueled fire.
Two firefighters sustained minor burns to their hands but no other injuries were reported.
