New Year’s Eve grass fire rips through busy park after A-League match sending revellers running for safety
Thousands of partygoers had to flee for safety after an A-League football match on Tuesday evening as a grass fire ripped through a busy park.
The match between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City had just ended and the 11,000 or so spectators at the Industree Group Stadium in Gosford were on their way home.
There were also revelers in the area to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Leagues Club Park and on the waterfront.
“We were just leaving the Mariners game with the kids and there was a big bang like a firecracker,” a witness told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Then within a few minutes the children’s playground was on fire.
“A few minutes earlier it was full of families.”
Police officers working on site at the A-League match and general New Year’s Eve celebrations were able to quickly clear the area as people fled.
Thousands of partygoers were forced to flee for safety after an A-League football match on Tuesday evening as a grass fire (pictured) swept through a busy park
NSW Police have cleared the scene of a fire at Leagues Club Park in Gosford (pictured)
Brian Kaltak of the Mariners with the ball during the A-League match between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City at Industree Group Stadium, on December 31, 2024 in Gosford
“Luckily the police were on site, who had already blocked the road for the fireworks,” said the witness.
“They told everyone to evacuate immediately.”
The witness said the huge crowd of people in the area caused some problems.
“Traffic was back to back, so it took a while for the fire truck to get through,” they said.
The police are investigating the cause of the fire.
The football match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Samuel Souprayen putting Melbourne City ahead in the 33rd minute and Nathan Paul equalizing for the Mariners in the 68th minute.
The result has seen City rise to fifth on the A-League ladder, while Central Coast remains stuck in 10th despite a point.