Bathurst St, Sydney: Hundreds evacuated after fire in CBD building basement

More than 70 firefighters have battled to extinguish a blaze, which forced the evacuation of 500 people from a building in central Sydney.

Firefighters outside the affected building on Bathurst St. Picture: Aymon Bertah

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from a building in Sydney’s CBD after a fire started in the basement.

Fire and Rescue NSW responded to a call after 12pm on Tuesday, with 18 fire trucks and 72 firefighters working to extinguish the blaze at the building on Bathurst St.

A FRNSW spokesman said an automatic fire alarm first sounded after midday, a short time before it was confirmed there was an “actual fire” in the building’s basement.

The scene on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Aymon Bertah

The firefighters attacked the fire, which has now been extinguished following the evacuation of 500 people.

The spokesman said there was heavy smoke in parts of the building with firefighters checking the fire stairs to ensure everyone had been evacuated from the building.

Evacuees have been across the street, waiting for almost two hours.

Emergency services at the scene. Picture: Aymon Bertah

One man, who asked not to be named, was standing in his bathrobe.

Onlookers waiting on Bathurst St were left waiting to hear what was happening, with many asking if there had been a fire or a police operation.

FRNSW along with NSW Police and NSW Ambulance crews remained at the scene just before 2pm, when firefighters were continuing to come in and out of the building.