Condobolin: 4000-tonne wheat silo fire takes five hours to extinguish on Silo Rd

Emergency services extinguished a lit silo – containing up to 4000 tonnes of wheat – in a town in the state’s central west overnight. Here’s the latest.

NSW Fire and Rescue deployed firefighters to Condobolin.

Emergency services have extinguished a fire which damaged a grain silo – containing up to 4000-tonne of wheat – in the state’s central west.

A loader vehicle caught alight inside a concrete structure, at a major grain facility on Silo Rd, Condobolin, on Thursday about 8pm.

Fire and Rescue NSW deployed eight firefighters and two appliances to the scene, including specialists in hazardous materials response with assistance from NSW Rural Fire Service.

A FRNSW statement said the crew was confronted by large flames which were impacting the silo and the system used to load the crops into it.

Firefighters doused a fire which damaged a grain silo at Condobolin, in the state's Central West. Picture: FRNSW

Twelve workers were evacuated from the area, while a train stationed near the silo was relocated as a precaution.

Fire crews began attacking the blaze from outside the silo because of concerns of a possible dust explosion and low visibility caused by thick smoke cover.

The structure was ventilated before firefighters moved to extinguish the fire from an open entrance to the silo.’’

The fire was extinguished more than five hours after the reports.

Smoke is expected to linger around the site for the next 24 to 48 hours.