Old Belrose library: Blaze at abandoned northern beaches redevelopment site

Dozens of firefighters had to battle a fire which broke out at an abandoned library site on Friday evening.

Dozens of firefighters are battling a fire which has broken out at an abandoned library site on the northern beaches.

Neighbouring residents called triple zero just after 6pm on Friday after flames were seen shooting from the roof of the former Belrose Library in Lockwood Ave.

The building has been vacant since Northern Beaches Council sold it to a developer in 2017 to help raise money to go towards a more modern library nearby.

Smoke billow from the abandoned library building. Picture: Facebook

Plans for a the $44 million redevelopment were rejected recently by planning authorities who said the proposed “shop top” project was a “substantial overdevelopment of the site”.

The developer, who is redesigning the proposal wanted to build 51 apartments, a gym, shops, eateries and a car wash on the block, opposite the popular Glenrose shopping centre.

A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman said it received calls at 6.18pm reporting a fire in the vacant building.

“There are currently 25 firefighters on scene,” the spokesman said. “Brigades from Forestville, Dee Why, Narrabeen, Manly and Willoughby were called in.

“When the first firefighters arrived they quickly got inside the building to fight the fire and quickly brought it under control.”

The building has been empty for three years. Picture: Facebook

The spokesman said firefighters searched the building and no people were found on the premises.

Police and ambulance crews were also at the scene.

Residents began posting about the blaze on social media as it was happening about at about 6.45pm.

Stuart Frank posted a picture to a community group and told the Manly Daily he saw the flames.

“It’s fairly low key. Definitely on fire but not too fierce. Police, fire, ambulance all attending,” Mr Frank said.

“Quite a few people watching. Library has been abandoned for quite some time. It is subject to a development application at the moment”.

On another community group a member wrote, “Anyone see what’s happening at Belrose? Lots of smoke in the air.”

Another person stated, “We just drove past. Lots of fire trucks but seemed to be under control”.

Resident Rachael Jackson said the fire “was pretty big” and initially there were concerns for a petrol station located nearby, but the fire had died down.

Ms Jackson said the flames attracted a crowd.

“Everybody has come out to look,” Ms Jackson said.