Clarence Valley Imaging fire: Maclean business premises destroyed by savage blaze on Thursday morning

A Clarence Valley business has been destroyed in a fire which ripped through the premises this morning, forcing an evacuation of dozens of people. See what happened.

A Clarence Valley medical imaging business has been destroyed in a fierce fire which ripped through the premises on Thursday morning, forcing an evacuation of at least 50 people.

Clarence Valley Council councillor Debrah Novak took to Facebook to share updates and a video with the community about the Clarence Valley Imaging blaze on River St at Maclean.

Dozens of workers were forced to leave the affected business, as well as the neighbouring council chambers and an ambulance station.

As of 10.40am, the fire had been contained and firefighters had been able to stop the blaze spreading to nearby structures.

Cr Novak said: “There were big balls of black smoke this morning above the CBD.”

Clarence Valley Council councillor Debrah Novak at the scene. Picture: Odessa Blain.

“Around 50 people were evacuated and at one point earlier on there would have been around 100 people out the front,” she said.

Ms Novak said the fire marked “another sad day for Maclean and another sad day for the Clarence Valley”.

“There’s been three fires in Maclean in the past 10 years and this is the third one in the Clarence Valley in the past year,” she said.

Emergency services on scene. Picture: Odessa Blain.

The aftermath. Picture: Odessa Blain.

The fire in Maclean on Wednesday. Picture: Adam Cinzio/Facebook

The gutted business. Picture: Odessa Blain.

“It sure keeps our fire brigades on their toes.”

Crowds around the site of the fire had largely dispersed by about 10am.

Some locals stopped to take a picture as a small fire continued to burn near the front of the building, which is understood to have had historic significance.

Residents can go to Maclean Hospital, which has an imaging service and bulk bills, while the affected practice – which has operated in town for about a decade – is out of action.

The fire in Maclean. Picture: Facebook/Clarence Valley Community Information

At least three Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) brigades were on scene this morning, as well as three Rural Fire Service brigades, NSW police, the State Emergency Service and NSW Ambulance paramedics.

About 8pm, Fire and Rescue NSW Station 306 Grafton stated multiple crews were on the way to the CBD fire, just north of Grafton.

More information is being sought from firefighters, paramedics and police, but FRNSW confirmed the fire has not been deemed suspicious.

The Maclean fire. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW Station 306 Grafton.

River St was closed from Taloumbi St to Wharf St, with police providing traffic control.

Clarence Valley Council stated customers may experience longer call wait times after the Maclean Customer Service Centre was evacuated.

“Our Maclean Customer Service Centre will be closed during the evacuation. We will keep the community updated and advise when the centre is reopened,” a statement read.