Firefighters rapidly extinguished flames aboard a barge in Rozelle Bay on Saturday morning after Fire and Rescue NSW received multiple calls reporting large gas cylinders or canisters “exploding,” with no one injured and the barge's occupant away at the time.
Fire and Rescue NSW received a “large amount” of calls about the blaze just before 11am, acting Superintendent Kevin Smith said. Twenty firefighters and five trucks attended and were able to “rapidly extinguish” the flames, assisted by a Port Authority boat and NSW Police.
The fire was the second barge blaze in Rozelle Bay within a week, after crews responded to a separate incident on the afternoon of Sunday, November 1. No firefighters or members of the public were injured in that fire, and the two are not believed to be connected.
Billowing black smoke from the blaze could be seen by shoppers and motorists in nearby Annandale. "Fire and rescue crews … are conducting final fire suppression efforts and search operations to get an all-clear to determine that there's nobody in the area where the fire has been," Smith said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The fire broke out near the popular Glebe foreshore walk, a busy public area on Sydney Harbour.
- It is the second barge fire in Rozelle Bay within a week, a pattern that may raise concerns about moored barges in the bay.
- Gas cylinders involved in the blaze meant the fire had the potential to be more dangerous than it was.
Background
Rozelle Bay sits on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, beside the Glebe foreshore walk. Saturday's blaze is the second barge fire in the bay in a week; nobody was injured in either incident, and the two are not believed to be connected.
What to Watch
- Whether the ongoing search operations secure an all-clear confirming nobody remains near the fire.
- Whether any connection between the two barge fires emerges as authorities continue their response.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline says crews responded to reports of gas cylinders exploding in Rozelle Bay.WA Today - Latest News: “Reports of gas cylinders ‘exploding’ in Rozelle Bay.”
- SupportedNo one was injured in the current blaze.WA Today - Latest News: “No one was injured in the blaze, Smith said”
- SupportedFirefighters rapidly extinguished the flames.WA Today - Latest News: “the 20 firefighters and five trucks in attendance able to “rapidly extinguish” the flames”
- SupportedThe barge’s occupant was away at the time of the fire.WA Today - Latest News: “The occupant of the barge was away at the time.”
- SupportedFire and Rescue NSW received a large number of calls just before 11am on Saturday.WA Today - Latest News: “Fire and Rescue NSW received a “large amount” of calls about the blaze at just before 11am on Saturday, acting Superintendent Kevin Smith said.”
- SupportedTwenty firefighters and five trucks attended, with help from a Port Authority boat and NSW Police.WA Today - Latest News: “the 20 firefighters and five trucks in attendance able to “rapidly extinguish” the flames, assisted by a Port Authority boat and NSW Police.”
- SupportedThis was the second barge fire in Rozelle Bay within a week, following a separate incident on Sunday, November 1.WA Today - Latest News: “It is the second barge fire in Rozelle Bay within a week, after crews responded to a separate incident on the afternoon of Sunday, November 1.”
- SupportedNo fire crews or members of the public were injured in the November 1 fire.WA Today - Latest News: “No fire crews or members of the public sustained any injuries in that fire”
- SupportedThe two fires are not believed to be connected.WA Today - Latest News: “the two are not believed to be connected.”
- SupportedBlack smoke from the fire could be seen by shoppers and motorists in nearby Annandale.WA Today - Latest News: “Billowing black smoke from the blaze could be seen by shoppers and motorists in nearby Annandale.”
- SupportedSmith said crews were conducting final suppression efforts and searches to establish that nobody was in the area.WA Today - Latest News: ““Fire and rescue crews … are conducting final fire suppression efforts and search operations to get an all-clear to determine that there’s nobody in the area where the fire has been,” Smith said.”