Traffic delays expected as fireys battle blaze at Coconut Grove business

EMERGENCY services have gotten a major structural fire along Bagot Rd under control, with early investigations showing most of the stock inside has been destroyed

Emergency services are working to get under control a fire on Bagot Rd.

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UPDATE: A FIRE which ripped through NT Oriental Emporium has destroyed most of the stock and product inside, and caused the roof to collapse.

NT Fire and Rescue Service fire investigator Tony Miles said crews were called to the scene before 3am and found the rear of the building aflame.

“They got to work pretty quickly but the fire was quite big started to call on additional resources,” he said.

“We had three stations attending, and they did a pretty good job in saving adjoining buildings, but unfortunately most of the stock and product inside empty Emporium has been lost either to fire or smoke and heat damage.

“Most of the fire seems to be confined to the rear area of the building, so that’ll be the area that the investigation will focus on once the building is declared safe to enter.”

Mr Miles said building was currently unstable as the roof had collapsed, with emergency services set to enter once it was safe. He added nothing had been ruled out as to the cause of the fire.

“W e’ll be looking at all options or all possible causes at this time we haven’t ruled anything in or out,” he said.

“There were just general chemicals stored there such as cooking oils. It’s a supermarket for one of a better term, so there’s all those sorts of things that are associated with supermarkets the general sort of chemicals, so nothing out of the ordinary but they are a risk to firefighters when they catch fire and they do give off toxic smoke.”

Investigations are continuing.

EARLIER: ALL inbound and outbound lanes on Bagot Rd are now open. People are warned to drive with caution as there is still sufficient smoke.

EARLIER: PARTS of Bagot Rd have been closed this morning as firefighters rush to control a fire that engulfed a business in Coconut Grove overnight.

Northern Watch Commander Siiri Tennosaar said police and fire officers are at the scene of a structure fire at the Oriental Emporium in Coconut Grove this morning.

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Police received multiple reports at about 2.45am this morning of a building on fire on the corner of Delatour St and Bagot Rd.

“Police and fire service attended to find the building fully ablaze,” she said.

“The fire is expected to continue to burn well into day hours.

“Due to dense smoke in the area, both inbound and outbound lanes of Bagot Road are closed between Totem Rd and Progress Dr.

Emergency services are working to get a fire under control on Bagot Rd.

“Traffic diversion is also in place on McMillans Rd at Sabine Oriental Emporium is owned by the Lay family, whose business Asian United Food Service on Bishop St, Woolner burned down in May 2018.

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Motorists and pedestrians are urged to avoid the area and to obey traffic controls in place. Anyone with information in relation to the fire is urged to contact Police on 131444.

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