The Rural Fire Service called in Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Orange, Molong and Bathurst to assist in fighting a blaze near Cudal late on Monday night, responding to reports the old Hazelton Airlines property was alight.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The property, on The Escort Way, was re-opened in 2019 as a Transport for NSW testing facility which, in addition to an established CrashLab in western Sydney, allows for technicians to test new and emerging vehicle technologies.
Initial reports were received just after 9.30pm on Monday evening and not long after the RFS requested assistance from Fire and Rescue NSW, with one truck dispatched from the Molong station at 9.57pm and another from Orange just two minutes later.
Fire and Rescue NSW reports suggest two buildings within the property were alight with fuel and gas storage under threat - although it was unconfirmed if they were active or not - while high voltage electrical supply was also an initial concern.
Although the RFS was the agency primarily responsible as the blaze fell in its jurisdiction, Fire and Rescue NSW reports suggest those concerns forced a defensive operation at first, with officers not entering the buildings until the fire and power was isolated.
A Hazmat vehicle from Bathurst was also tasked to the incident to supply additional assistance, in general and more specifically with breathing apparatus.
The operation continued into the early hours of Tuesday morning, with a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson saying crews from Orange returned at approximately 2.30am.
As of 7.45am, the Central Western Daily was awaiting details of the incident from the Rural Fire Service, however it is being reported via alert systems as being under control. Any subsequent police and fire investigations are yet to be confirmed.
The incident, reportedly, left the entire town of Cudal without power for a period of time.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
