Update: Video added.
A FOUR-STORY SHOPPING CENTER IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, was the scene of a spectacular fire on Tuesday afternoon.
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Sydney Morning Herald
A high-voltage electrical substation on the ground floor had an explosion that started a photogenic fire which vented onto the service road.
The shopping center was filled with customers, many of which were very reluctant to leave the building. In addition, the shopping center had been running a series of fire drills over the past week and the employees did not realize at first that this was the “real thing.”
Two elevators were stuck in transit when the power went off, creating one more task for the firefighters. As shoppers were trying to evacuate the parking deck, the attendants insisted on collecting the parking fees rather than opening the gates and letting the cars flow quickly out of the structure.
The fire was quickly extinguished and was contained to the electrical vault. But power remains out throughout the shopping center and smoke has to be evacuated.
[photopress:sydshop_a_smh.jpg,full,centered]
Sydney Morning Herald
Fire Brigade Superintendent Craig Brierley says the fire was quickly put out, but it heated up oil in the transformer to dangerous temperatures.
“We can hear it bubbling. It’s a matter now of slowly cooling it down until it’s safe,” he said.
The Courier-Mail has the STORY.
Click to view fire video
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