Flying sparks from welder caused Circular Quay construction site fire

THE Circular Quay construction site at the centre of a huge blaze which spewed “fireballs” across Sydney yesterday was bought by companies linked to the controversial Chinese billionaire who sparked the resignation of Sam Dastyari.

THE Circular Quay construction site at the centre of a huge harbourside blaze which spewed “fireballs” and toxic fumes across Sydney yesterday was bought by companies linked to the controversial Chinese billionaire who sparked the resignation of Sam Dastyari.

Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo purchased the old Gold Fields House building at the corner of ­Alfred and Pitt streets along with a Gold Coast development for $1.13 billion two weeks ago through a Yuhu-linked unit, AWH Investment Group Pty Ltd.

Firefighters battled the out of control blaze. Picture: John Grainger

Massive plumes of smoke at the site. Picture: Twitter

Fire engulfed the building about 8.45am yesterday, bringing sections of the CBD to a standstill with police blocking surrounding streets and Circular Quay rail station temporarily closed.

Office workers ran screaming in terror as “fireballs” fell from the building.

Artists impression of the Gold Fields redevelopment. The construction site erupted into flames yesterday.

Gold Fields House was in the process of being demolished when the site became engulfed in flames.

Huang Xiangmo’s YuHu company took ownership of the Gold Fields House project just two weeks ago.

Witnesses described at least four explosions they said were powerful enough to shake nearby buildings.

Fire officials said the blasts were gas cylinders on forklifts and oxyacetylene tanks for welders on the site, where workers were demolishing the building.

Workers are evacuated from surrounding buildings. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

All construction workers were evacuated. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Smoke could be seen across the harbour. Picture: Lyn Molloy

“You could hear and feel the explosions when they happened,” witness Hannah Gee said.

More than 60 firefighters rushed to contain the blaze and evacuated people from a 200m exclusion zone.

A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman said the blaze was caused by flying sparks from a welder that hit flammable material nearby which caught fire.

“There were no suspicious circumstances,” he said.

Thirteen workers taking part in the demolition were treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics.

Workers from the building that caught fire were assessed by paramedics. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It took some time before the blaze was put out. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The demolition was part of a project by Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin’s real estate company Wanda Group to develop the site into a 60-storey hotel.

In January, ownership of the project reportedly shifted from Wanda to the Yuhu Group after the latter agreed to buy Wanda’s two Australian properties — the Sydney building  and one on the Gold Coast.

Mr Dastyari resigned from parliament in December in the wake of a political donations scandal involving the Yuhu Group.