Firefighters battling large scrap metal car yard fire at Trenayr in the Grafton area
Firefighters have undergone a marathon battle to control a big fire in a scrap yard near Grafton, which has been fuelled by more than 1000 vehicles. Check out the incredible photos.
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Firefighters have this morning controlled a massive fire in a scrap metal car yard in the Grafton area - which continues to burn and will require a painstaking operation to extinguish.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) were called to the fire on Trenayr Rd at Trenayr just before 6pm on November 29, an RFS spokeswoman said.
As many as 1500 vehicles destined for scrap ignited, generating a mega-plume of smoke from a cocktail of chemicals.
Residents were warned to stay indoors, close windows and doors and to turn off air-conditioning.
“We’ve got a very toxic smoke plume coming off this fire,” FRNSW Mid North Coast duty commander Tony Lenthall said last night.
While the cause of the fire will be investigated, officers attached to Coffs-Clarence Police District are treating it as suspicious and have established a crime scene.
As inquiries continue, police would like to speak with four males, believed to have been travelling in a white dual cab utility on Trenayr Road, Trenayr, about 5.30pm yesterday.
Any witnesses or those with information are urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Fire and Rescue’s hazardous materials unit was in charge of the incident, as the inferno involved plastics, tyres, alloy wheels, fuels and LPG.
The Rural Fire Service spokeswoman said the blaze had spread to about 30 vehicles by about 6pm – with cars stacked 10-high in places.
A firefighter received a head injury while fighting the blaze, and was admitted to hospital for observation and released.
Mr Lenthall said water supply was a challenge for firefighters, and this was managed by calling in a fleet of heavy RFS tankers and a council bulk-water vehicle.
A Fire and Rescue spokesman said some 30 firefighters remained on scene this morning, and heavy machinery will be brought in to pick-apart the mountain of cars so firefighters can access “deep-seated” flame.
While the fire was now only giving off about as much smoke as “a barbecue”, the spokesman said explosions of things like fuel and gas tanks remains a concern.
“The fire will find something that it likes,” he said.
#NSWRFS & @FRNSW continue work on a fire in a scrap metal yard at Trenayr Nth of Grafton. The fire is generating a smoke plume that may settle in local area FRNSW issued Emergency Alert with advice: Residents stay indoors overnight close all windows doors vents & turn off aircon pic.twitter.com/ErpkPojquS
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 29, 2022
The Environment Protection Authority is also on scene this morning, assessing control measures put in place by the fire agencies.
At its height, smoke from the fire had impacted Summerland Way and other nearby roads.