Fire rages through Sydney Olympic Park venue

THERE was a loud bang before a fire engulfed a sporting venue from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

A LARGE fire has broken out at Sydney Olympic Park and ravaged an official sporting venue used in the 2000 Olympic Games.

The Monster Skate Park was earlier engulfed by fire as more than 12 emergency service crews and 80 firefighters battled to contain the blaze on Showground Rd in Homebush.

Plumes of dark smoke could be seen billowing from the building, next to ANZ Stadium, will host the Wests Tigers and South Sydney NRL game tonight.

There were reports of a “loud bang” before the venue went up in flames around 2.30pm but the fire has since been contained, according to the NSW Fire Service.

One witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told news.com.au that workers on the roof of nearby ANZ Stadium rushed to the skate park to “get some young people out”.

“It was all very dramatic and there were fire engines everywhere,” the source said.

“We don’t know if anyone has been hurt.”

Nearby sports halls were also evacuated.

One man in his 30s was treated for mild smoke inhalation on the scene before he was taken to Concord Hospital as a precaution. News.com.au understands no one else was injured.

Another witness told news.com.au the fire looked like it was “definitely high in the roof” of the Monster Skate Park complex, which was used as an official sporting venue during the Sydney Olympic Games.

SYD OLYMPIC PARK | #FRNSW Fire contained Showground Rd. 1 pers trans to hosp with smoke inhl'nn. ~80 f’fighters on site at event peak pic.twitter.com/Gxk4Mddfkk

— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) May 12, 2017

Anyone know whats happening at #SydneyOlympicPark pic.twitter.com/dE1JMZLr5f

— Regi Harbron (@regih85) May 12, 2017

A NSW Fire Service spokeswoman told news.com.au the blaze has been categorised as a “sixth alarm, which is rather large”.

“We have 12 fire crews on the scene with more on the way,” she said earlier today.

NSW Fires and Rescue crews were called to Showground Road near Grand Parade about 2.30pm after a large fire broke out in a building with huge plumes of dark smoke billowing across the city's west. Picture: AAP Image/Georgie Moore.

Firefighters attend a building fire at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct on Friday, May 12, 2017.

‘NO EFFECT’ ON SPORTING OR ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

ANZ Stadium spokesman Arthur Stanley told news.com.au the fire had “no impact” on the stadium and that tonight’s NRL game between the West Tigers and Rabbitohs would go ahead as scheduled.

“The smoke billowed towards the river in Parramatta and has had no effect on ANZ Stadium ... we're in good shape,” he said.

A spokesman for the Sydney Olympic Park Authority confirmed it would not affect other events at the site.

“I can confirm that all football games today and tomorrow will go ahead as normal as well as the Bengali New Year Festival,” he said.

@kotzie82 @TripleMSydney @NRL @TonyAdams_Moley @SSFCRABBITOHS Hey Kotzie, we're good to go with the footy tonight. The smoke blew towards Parramatta and won't impact the game. Cheers

— ANZ Stadium (@ANZStadium) May 12, 2017

TRAIN SERVICES NOT DISRUPTED

Train services have not been disrupted by the fire at Sydney Olympic Park, according to authorities. But commuters are being urged to “take care if travelling around the precinct”.

It is not yet known what caused the fire.

Fire not affecting train services, but please take care if travelling around the precinct.
https://t.co/UMRfwnYb7N

— T7 Sydney Trains (@T7SydneyTrains) May 12, 2017

According to Monster Skate Park’s website, the venue is the “only international standard indoor/outdoor ramp in Australia that includes an indoor street course, outdoor vert and mini ramp plus a skate shop and entertainment lounge”.

“Whether you’re a skateboarder, BMXer, inline skater or scooter rider, the electric atmosphere and cranking tunes at Monster will pump you and push your limits of ability and endurance,” the site reads.

Do you know more?

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Massive fire at Olympic Park @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/mKgXUQNidy

— Iggz (@adnyana179) May 12, 2017

Originally published as Fire rages through Sydney Olympic Park venue