UPDATE
IT'S been a busy morning for Tamworth's fire fighters, who simultaneously tackled a building blaze on Bridge Street and a car fire in Calala.
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At about 8.20am, four fire trucks responded to a call out to The Chairman Upholstery at 137 Bridge St, where a fire had erupted in the store’s back shed.
Fire and Rescue NSW regional commander Peter Nugent said on arrival, the firefighters were met by a man who was attempting to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher.
He was later treated on the scene by paramedics for minor smoke inhalation.
Both of Bridge Street’s east-bound lanes were closed to traffic as firefighters worked to put out the fire.
“All the damage was confined to the back of the shed,” Inspector Nugent said.
“There was minor structural damage, but the contents were damaged severally.
“Both Tamworth and West Tamworth stations were there, so we were able to contain it really quickly.”
The fire appears to have started when one of the workers turned on an air compressor.
Not long after arriving at the Bridge Street scene, two of the fire trucks left to respond to the Calala car fire.
Senior firefighter Robert Eckersley said the car was fully alight when crews arrived.
The car had been parked next to a caravan and garage, however the owner was able to push the car down the drive way, away from the structures, before it full blaze.
“The house would have been well and truly in danger if the car hadn’t pushed away, and the caravan would have caught alight,” Mr Eckersley said.
“The owner saw smoke coming from under the dash. He disconnected the battery, but that didn’t stop it.
“We had it extinguished in about half an hour.”
People evacuated 14 people from neighbouring houses as a precaution.
EARLIER
One of Tamworth’s busiest roads is closed, after a building fire broke out on Thursday morning.
Fire and Rescue crews have contained the blaze, which erupted on the intersection of Bridge Street and Out Street in West Tamworth.
Fire fighters remain on the scene. All east-bound lanes of Bridget Street are close, with diversions in place.
Motorist are urged to avoid the area.
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Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
