August 10, 2026

Immune Banner
Asaase Radio
NewsWorld

Massive ’10th alarm’ fire contained after destroying two buildings in central Sydney

by Winifred Lartey0
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Firefighters say a massive blaze that engulfed a vacant seven-storey building in Central Sydney has been contained.
The massive inferno — dubbed a “10th alarm”, the most severe type of fire — sent plumes of smoke drifting over the city and shut down nearby streets as the larger heritage-listed building started to collapse.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the area as the fire burned through several levels on Randle Street near Central Station just after 4pm.
Some sections of the exterior walls crumbled onto the pavement below. More than 100 firefighters were called to the scene from multiple stations across Sydney, needing hours to battle the blaze with a combination of aerial and ground attacks.
“[Firefighters] successfully stopped the blaze from engulfing other nearby buildings, including residential apartments.”
However, operations will continue throughout the night and an exclusion zone remains in place, with FRNSW urging the public to avoid the area.
Authorities warned people living in the vicinity of the fire to keep their windows and doors closed to prevent potential impacts of smoke.
NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said earlier that the building was made out of “well seasoned and dry timber” with significant airflow between the levels, which is what caused the building to burn with such speed and intensity.
“The information we have at this stage was the buildings were vacant or unoccupied, whether they were under construction or about to have sort of demolition or work done,” he said.
Initial reports suggest the building was abandoned but hundreds of people in nearby apartments and office buildings were evacuated.
Surry Hills fire
Firefighters then worked to contain a new secondary blaze at a neighbouring building. Fire alarms went off in surrounding buildings after sensing the smoke, which Fewtrell said contributed to everyone evacuating safely.
Surry Hills fire
“We have some engineers attending the scene and they’ll help guide our decisions around safety considerations, particularly around the risk of collapse,” Fewtrell added.
“We will make the assessments on a building-by-building basis to determine when it’s safe and the conditions that are safe for them to return.”

‘Bloody scary’

One woman who was near Central Station at the time told 9News she was “a bit in shock”.
“I was right there and it was very loud,” she said.
One student said he felt a wave of heat move across his face, “It was bloody scary when it collapsed. It was really loud and I was scared for the people who were around there. The wave of heat that came on my face, it was scary. Witnesses on the ground during the evening commute described the chaotic scene.”

 

Watching commuters and office workers were left stunned by the blaze.
Watching commuters and office workers were left stunned by the blaze.

“Probably one of the biggest building fires I’ve seen in the city, I first got off the train and saw the smoke. That was pretty much before any fire trucks or police had arrived. There were flames leaping out from every window,” 9News senior cameraman Mike McGee said.

The aerial view of the Surry Hills fire.
The aerial view of the Surry Hills fire.

 

Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in or log on to broadcasts online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming: facebook.com/asaaseradio99.5. Also on YouTube: Asaase Radio Official.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#SafeMotorway4All

Related posts

Kumasi: Market women root for Bawumia as NPP flagbearer

Joseph Appiah-Dolphyne

NPP primary: Kyeretwie pulls out; Nyantakyi, eight others pick forms for Ejisu seat

Jonathan Ofori

ECG restores power to Afram Plains after marine cable fault

Winifred Lartey