Why Ladbury Ave, Penrith grass fire took hours to fight: Cars, crane blocked access to reserve

Stunned on-lookers captured the moment a ferocious grass fire broke out on the banks of the Nepean River, burning through a hectare of land in just minutes.

A stunned on-looker has captured the moment a fast moving grass fire broke out on the banks of Penrith’s Nepean River, incinerating a hectare of land in just minutes.

Fire Rescue NSW crews were called to the blaze on Monday night, which had broken out at Ladbury Av behind the Panthers Complex just after 9:30pm.

According to a spokesperson for Fire Rescue NSW, two trucks were required to get a handle on the situation, with the blaze not being contained until well past midnight.

The fire burning next to a playground Ladbury Av, on Monday night. Source: Facebook

An eyewitness, who recorded the footage told Penrith Press the flames were burning along Peachtree Creek, “parallel” to homes situated on Ladbury Ave, and that she believed the fire started nearby a council playground.

“I was just taking my dog out when I saw this bright haze, brighter than the Panthers precint, and it was just raining disgusting ash,” she said.

According to the eyewitness, it took fire crews nearly half an hour to reach the fire due to a throng of onlookers who had parked their cars in front of the playground blocking an access point.

Another attempt at accessing the fire from an access point further up the road was also thwarted by a crane being parked over it, with firies forced to slam their horn until residents removed the vehicles.