Canterbury Rd fire, Sydney: Huge blaze breaks out, traffic delays expected

A massive factory fire has closed one of Sydney’s busiest roads, causing traffic chaos.

Part of Canterbury Road remains closed on Tuesday morning after 70 firefighters spent the early hours of the morning battling the raging blaze.

Firefighters spent hours battling the blaze in Canterbury, in the city’s south-west, amid fears it would spread to nearby homes and a petrol station where 100,000 liters of petrol were stored.

The fire, which broke out around 2:30 a.m. and required aerial firefighting equipment, continues to smolder four hours later.

“Firefighting continues with multiple crews and an aerial appliance, traffic is heavy in the area,” Fire and Rescue NSW said.

Chief Inspector Adam Dewberry described the fire as extremely intense.

“It came within meters of a house at the back and we deployed a number of crews to save the house,” he told Sunrise.

“A rather intense fire for this time of morning.”

The fire broke out in a large factory that produces white goods, which suffered extensive damage.

It is clear that it was a family business that had been in existence for 50 years.

No injuries have been reported.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area as several road closures and extended traffic delays are expected.

The eastbound lanes of Canterbury Rd reopened around 6am.

All westbound lanes remain closed and delays are expected to continue throughout the morning.

“Continue to use an alternative route, exercise caution and allow extra time,” a traffic warning in Sydney said.

‘Westerly diversions are via Fore St, High St, Canton St & Canterbury Rd. Traffic remains heavy through the area.”

The gutted factory has been declared a crime scene and detectives are already on the scene investigating what caused the fire.