Officials say more than 200 firefighters contained the main blaze, but hot spots and hazardous smoke linger.
SYDNEY, Australia — A massive industrial blaze sent a fireball up to 150 meters into the night sky in North St Marys late Saturday, triggering repeated explosions and drawing more than 200 firefighters from across greater Sydney to a waste management site on Kurrajong Road.
The inferno, which began shortly before 11 p.m. local time, forced crews into defensive operations as concrete debris and a dislodged chemical tank blasted into the air. Officials said the main body of fire was contained by morning, but warned the incident could smolder through the day as hazardous materials continue to fuel hot spots. Fire and Rescue NSW led the response, supported by police, ambulance crews and environmental authorities monitoring smoke drift and runoff.
Crews arrived to find sections of the factory fully involved and a series of explosions rocking the complex. A towering fireball — visible for kilometers — rose above the site as units established water relays and deployed five aerial platforms to attack flames from multiple sides. Fire Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell praised “amazing firefighting” as teams repositioned under falling debris and continued suppression through the early hours. Two firefighters sustained minor hand injuries and were treated at the scene, authorities said. A 200-meter exclusion zone remained in place around the property, with motorists diverted and residents urged to avoid the area while thick smoke persisted over nearby suburbs.
Officials said hazardous materials specialists were deployed with air-monitoring equipment and drones to map the plume. Large, fist-sized chunks of concrete rained down during the initial blast, complicating access as crews pumped water from distant hydrants to maintain pressure. Explosions were felt several kilometers away in Penrith, according to emergency updates. Investigators have not determined what sparked the blaze. The waste facility, described as a recycling operation, stored chemicals that continued to ignite pockets of fire through the morning as crews methodically cooled tanks and metal structures.
The site sits in an industrial corridor of Sydney’s far west, where previous factory and warehouse fires have prompted sustained multi-agency responses due to stored fuels and chemicals. Saturday night’s fireball drew comparisons from longtime residents who reported seeing flames above rooftops and hearing rapid crackling before the first explosion. Similar incidents in the region have required extended overhauls to prevent reignitions and have spurred environmental monitoring for airborne particulates and contaminated runoff. In this case, early readings along nearby residential streets were described as clear even as smoke rose and dissipated at altitude.
Police established the exclusion zone and assisted with traffic control while Fire and Rescue NSW coordinated suppression, overhaul and air monitoring. The Environment Protection Authority joined the operation to track water quality and manage containment around drains. Officials said the cause remains unknown and that investigators will examine equipment, storage areas and security footage once temperatures drop enough to safely enter interior sections. Crews expected to continue mopping up through Sunday, with briefings to follow if conditions change. Authorities said any formal determinations on ignition and potential compliance issues will come after on-scene assessments and lab analysis of residues.
Witness video showed the fireball rising above the complex as shock waves rattled windows. Neighbors described a “roar” followed by bursts as sections of the structure collapsed. “It lit up the whole street like daylight,” said Adam Lopez, who lives several blocks away and watched firefighters reposition behind shielding walls. Fewtrell said crews were “lucky” to avoid serious injury during the largest explosion, crediting training and rapid redeployment. By midmorning, firefighters continued to douse smoldering stacks and vent trapped heat from metal-clad areas while heavy machinery created safe access points.
As of Sunday afternoon local time, the main fire line remained contained and crews were extinguishing residual hot spots inside the footprint of the facility. Investigators will conduct a scene examination once temperatures allow, with an initial update expected later Sunday. Monitoring of smoke and runoff will continue until the site is cold and stable.
Author note: Last updated November 29, 2025.