Firefighters have stop a massive warehouse blaze on Annie Street, Wickham from spreading to nearby fuel tanks

More than 100 firefighters took four hours to stop the spread of the huge blaze in former wool sheds at Wickham from catching onto nearby fuel tanks containing eight million litres of diesel and unleaded fuel.

Firefighters have been praised for their extraordinary bravery in saving a potentially catastrophic explosion when flames from a huge Wickham warehouse fire threatened eight million litres of fuel stored in a series of tanks just metres away.

More than 50 homes and 200 units were evacuated from around a series of four-storey, 100-metre long former wool sheds that exploded into a fireball on Tuesday afternoon.

More than 100 firefighters and 30 fire trucks from as far away as Sydney worked for more than four hours to bring the blaze under control.

With the roof and levels in the two buildings collapsed and fears walls will collapse, the next challenge is to extinguish the fire now burning under debris.

Firefighters were battling the blaze in an old warehouse on Annie Street, Wickham. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW.

Despite heavy rain, that exercise could take days.

Asbestos from the building is also raising concerns for authorities, with the city’s police chief Superintendent Wayne Humphrey warning that burning embers would have drifted into nearby residences and schools.

Most residents were being allowed back into the area on Wednesday, although there were still concerns about falling walls and objects stopping some locals from returning home.

The blaze which destroyed three warehouses at Wickham. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW.

Chief Superintendent Terry Farley, of Fire and Rescue NSW, said the firefighters showed enormous courage to continue fighting the blaze with imminent danger lying next door.

“There was a very major risk considering the Ampol tank farm was only 30 metres from the height of the blaze,” Chief Superintendent Farley said.

“Our people worked hard to make sure that water was applied around that farm so no sparks or embers could come across into the tank farm.

“[It was] an outstanding job along with Ampol to make sure that was protected.

The former wool sheds ablaze on Tuesday. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW.

“That would have been catastrophic as millions of litres of fuel are on site there.”

Supt Humphrey also praised the firefighters’ “sterling and courageous job” for containing the blaze to the three old wool sheds, which held 12 businesses and storage facilities – as well as decades of lanolin – which helped fuel the fire.

He said Strike Force Lynette had been established to investigate the cause of the fire.

The coroner had also been informed.

The blaze which destroyed three warehouses at Wickham on Tuesday. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW.

EARLIER

Over 100 firefighters have successfully contained a massive warehouse fire which threatened several fuel tanks nearby full of eight million litres of diesel and unleaded petrol.

Residents from more than 50 homes and 200 units remained evacuated late on Tuesday night, although fire crews had taken control of the blaze which destroyed two former wool sheds at Wickham.

More than 100 firefighters and 40 fire trucks were needed to stop the huge blaze, with plumes of smoke being seen from tens of kilometres away across greater Newcastle.

After four hours of using aerial pumpers and ground crews, Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement that crews had prevented the spread of the huge fire infro a nearby oil storage facility.

Firefighters are battling a blaze which has broken out in a warehouse on Annie Street at Wickham. Picture: Jen Tarran.

“The fire was escalated to a ‘10th alarm’ – the most severe type of fire – and quickly spread to a second building, with flames tearing through its four stories and sending black plumes of smoke into the sky,’’ the statement said.

“About 40 people were evacuated from the oil storage facility and a nearby building.

“Nearby residents from 50 houses and 200 units have also been evacuated to an evacuation centre, set up at the Goodlife Church in Albert St, Wickham. Any displaced resident should seek shelter at that location.

“The inferno took four hours to bring under control, it remains contained to two of four large adjoining brick warehouses by crews from Newcastle‘s surrounding regions.

“Final extinguishment is ongoing and is expected to take a number of hours due to the significant risk of structural collapse on both buildings.

“At the height of the fire, adjoining buildings and a large fuel storage tank farm nearby were under threat.

The fire is producing large amounts of smoke. Picture: Jen Tarran

“Firefighters battled hard to prevent the fire from spreading to those properties.

“The adjacent depot features a number of very large tanks, containing more than eight-million litres of diesel and unleaded fuel.

“The cause of the fire is to be determined.

The adjacent depot features a number of very large tanks, containing more than eight-million litres of diesel and unleaded fuel.

“The cause of the fire is to be determined.

“There are now concerns for the integrity of the structure of the two smouldering buildings.”

Residents in the local vicinity are advised to close their doors and windows and turn off airconditioning units while fire firefighting operations are underway.

Residents have reported constant explosions from the site and some have been evacuated from Annie St, Milford St, The Ave and part of Robert St have been evacuated as a precaution.

“Officers from Newcastle City Police District and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended and have evacuated residents and businesses along Annie and Milford Streets as a precaution,” police said in a statement.

“Several surrounding roads have been closed, motorists are urged to avoid the area while the operation remains underway.”

The statement also urged residents in the area to take the following precautions:

• Anyone with respiratory conditions should limit their exposure to smoke outdoors – if shortness of breath occurs, take reliever medicine or seek medical assistance

• Ensure windows and doors are closed to prevent smoke infiltration

• Removing any washing from clotheslines

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said on his Facebook page that people should stay away from the area.

“I‘ve spoken with the police commander whose number one message is that everyone needs to stay away from the area. The rubberneckers are out. DO NOT GO to the Wickham/Islington/Maryville area,” Mr Crakanthorp’s Facebook page said.

“Emergency services are also well aware of the nearby fuel storage, and are bringing in specialist vehicles to assist with the situation.”

More to come