Flames engulf building in Sydney’s CBD

SCAFFOLDING covering a high-rise construction site in the heart of Sydney caught fire, with dramatic footage showing flames and smoke shooting up the building.

SCAFFOLDING covering a high-rise construction site in the heart of Sydney has caught fire, with dramatic footage showing flames and smoke shooting up the building.

The building on Macquarie St opposite State Parliament is understood to house barristers chambers and had its front facade covered by scaffolding and safety mesh.

The mesh outside the building is believed to have caught fire. Picture: Mattew Smith

The fire started at the northern end of the Macquarie Street building, near Hyde Park, about 7.50am this morning, with fire crews racing to the scene and closing the street.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Norman Buckley said 12 fire trucks responded to the blaze.

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“The fire is out, we attacked it from the outside with the hose and ladders and we also had firefighters on the inside of the building,” Supt Buckley said.

The blaze has been extinguished but Macquarie Street remains closed. Picture: John Grainger

Around 20 people were evacuated from the 11-storey building and around 70 firefighters were on the scene.

Supt Buckley it was too early to determine the cause of the fire.

“We will liaise with workers to try and determine the cause,” Supt Buckley said.

The mesh is believed to have caught fire this morning and spread to the top of the 14-storey building.

SYDNEY | #FRNSW update on fire on Macquarie St, fire under control, 20 people safely evacuated, operations are ongoing pic.twitter.com/Xud3u9zrzc

— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) May 30, 2018

The Gold Fields House building in Circular Quay went up in similar circumstances in February, with workers evacuated and treated for smoke inhalation.

Again, it appeared the fire spread up the mesh which covered scaffolding which was in place while destruction work was carried out.

The scaffolding equipment on the building went up in flames. Picture: John Grainger

“It looked like it started around level six and it’s gone all the way to the top,” one witness said.

“Now it’s melted down the building and stripped everything else below it.

Traffic is closed in both directions. Picture: John Grainger

Twelve fire trucks are at the scene. Picture: John Grainger

Around 20 people were evacuated from the building. Picture: John Grainger

“The fireys have their sky jet (crane) here and they’re trying to put it out.”

“The flames were going up the scaffolding. I think there was straw in scaffolding to catch dust which just went up in flames,” Patrick Toohey, who works in a nearby building said.

“You could see balls of hay catching on fire — it was a bit like Grenfell tower going up,” he said, referencing the London tragedy.

Footage from the Nine Network shows flames quickly rising up the 11-storey building, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky.

“Emergency services are responding to a fire at a construction site on Macquarie Street at Sydney. There have been no reported injuries. Diversions are in place,” NSW Police tweeted about 8am.

The building at 233 Macquarie St, is located behind the Supreme Court of NSW buildings.

Macquarie St between Prince Alfred Rd and Hunter St is closed in both directions.

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