Fire out of control breaks out on the top floor of a block of flats on Sydney’s Oxford Street as residents scramble to escape
- A fire breaks out in a Sydney apartment building
- Flames leap from a unit on the 15th floor
- Fire is reportedly under control
More than 40 firefighters managed to contain a dramatic blaze that broke out on the top floor of a downtown apartment building, where flames could be seen leaping from a unit.
Sydney emergency services rushed to the scene of the blaze shortly after 5pm on Sunday and converged on the corner of Oxford Street and Liverpool Street in the inner-eastern suburb of Darlinghurst.
The Park Apartments building was evacuated, but it was deemed too dangerous for people on the 15th floor where the fire would break out, so they were told to stay on their balconies by door-to-door firefighters.
A major fire has broken out on the 15th floor of a block of flats in central Sydney
A cherry picker on Oxford Street was used to lift firefighters to the height of the apartment.
Fourteen fire trucks arrived on the scene and 26 firefighters were able to bring the fire under control around 6:30 p.m.
A firefighter and another person suffered smoke inhalation and had to be treated at the scene by paramedics.
Fourteen fire engines attended the blaze at the corner of Oxford Street and Liverpool Street in inner-east Sydney
Oxford Street, a main road for Sydney, is closed to one lane only.
Videos and images posted on social media showed the inferno and fire engines rushing to the scene as the building’s residents huddled along Oxford St.
The apartment, where the roof on the outside was charred by the fire, is said to have suffered serious damage.
Fire and Rescue NSW has released a statement about the fire.
Fire trucks in Sydney race to the scene of a blaze that broke out on the top floor of an inner-city apartment building
A cherry picker was deployed to lift firefighters to fight the blaze on the top floor of the building
“Crews from multiple stations across the city were initially alerted by an automatic fire alarm before multiple witnesses called Triple Zero (000) to report the blaze,” the statement said.
Firefighters quickly gained access to the burning unit and brought the fire under control.
“A firefighter stayed with two elderly residents in a neighboring unit and, when it was safe to do so, helped them exit the building.
“Those residents have since been assessed and cleared by NSW Ambulance paramedics, while the firefighter who helped them is being taken to hospital for further observation.”
“Due to the extensive spread of smoke throughout the common areas of the building, residents on other floors were instructed to remain within their units to protect them from possible smoke inhalation.
“Firefighters continue to ventilate the building.”
At this stage, the cause of the fire is unknown and will be investigated.