New Year’s Eve fireworks scare: barge catches fire in Terrigal
Thousands of revellers were evacuated from a NSW Central Coast beach after a barge packed with fireworks caught fire | WATCH
Thousands of New Year’s Eve revellers were last night evacuated from a beach on the NSW Central Coast after a barge packed with fireworks caught fire.
Crowds of people gathered on Terrigal beach just before the 9pm fireworks display and began cheering and filming when the first of the fireworks show commenced.
Two pyrotechnicians were forced to jump overboard to escape the disastrous fireworks display.
The barge, carrying significant amounts of fireworks about 50m offshore, caught fire about four minutes into the 9.30pm scheduled display on Terrigal beach, on the NSW Central Coast.
Fire Rescue NSW Superintendent Norman Buckley said the technicians operating the display jumped overboard before they were rescued by passers-by.
“A few of the fireworks caught on fire which extended to the barge itself,” Superintendent Buckley said.
“We have four trucks and a senior officer down there providing assistance”.
A NSW Ambulance Service spokeswoman told The Australian the two technicians were treated for minor burns and minor exposure, sustained in the water.
Emergency crews, including the Marine Rescue, Rural Fire Service, Police and Ambulance, are all on scene as the fire continues to smoulder.
The Environmental Protection Agency was also contacted to monitor any spillages of hazardous material from the burning barge into the water.
Superintendent Buckley said an exclusion zone will be set up on the beach if windy conditions push the barge any closer to shore.
Jess Winley tweeted video footage from the moment the showcase descended into chaos.
“Everyone started screaming and running while evacuating after this. damn terrigal fireworks,” Ms Winley said.
Another witness, Mitch Beaumont tweeted that he hoped “everyone on-board is OK”.
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