Intense fire destroys two businesses at Alstonville industrial estate
An overnight fire has destroyed two businesses at the Russellton Industrial Estate in Alstonville, with firefighters containing an intense blaze marked by extreme heat and small explosions.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to Russellton Drive about 10.30pm after multiple Triple Zero (000) reports of smoke coming from a building.
Four fire trucks and crews from Alstonville, Goonellabah and Lismore responded to the scene.
Firefighters, assisted by NSW Police and the Rural Fire Service, accessed the single-level warehouse and extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Gary White said crews faced exposure risks on three sides of the building but successfully contained the fire to the building of origin.
He said the fire was burning intensely on arrival, with crews reporting extreme heat and several small explosions during the incident.
Workers arriving at the Myrtle Trading Company processing facility at 10 Russellton Drive about 7am found the building extensively damaged.
Large sections of steel sheet walls had been cut away by firefighters to gain access.
The Myrtle Trading Company workplace was destroyed, along with a takeaway food business operating at the front of the building.
Workers said it appeared the fire may have started in the office area and praised firefighters for containing what would have been a far more destructive blaze.
Some equipment at the rear of the complex, including a forklift, appeared to have avoided major damage despite the intensity of the fire.
Cardboard packaging and fittings were still smouldering this morning, while water used to extinguish the blaze continued to run from the building.
Next door, staff at the P.E. Foods distribution complex discovered their locks had been cut by fire crews as a precaution to protect the premises.
The factory manager said the only indication something was wrong overnight was a phone alert showing power had been cut about 11pm.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is not considered suspicious at this stage.
