st marys waste facility blaze triggers gas bottle explosions

A large fire broke out at an industrial waste facility in Western Sydney on Tuesday, with exploding gas cylinders fuelling the blaze and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

The fire ignited at Cleanaway St Marys Liquid Waste Services on Christie Street, St Marys, at approximately 1:48 pm, threatening nearby properties.

NSW Fire and Rescue officials described the situation as “extremely dangerous,” with gas bottles at risk of further explosions. Footage from the scene showed flames reaching up to 60 metres high.

Authorities have established an 800-metre exclusion zone, urging residents and businesses to avoid the area. More than 20 fire trucks and 100 firefighters are on-site battling the fire, made more challenging by soaring temperatures, with St Marys recording 34°C on Tuesday.

Photo: Over 100 firefighters and more than 20 fire trucks are actively combating the blaze/ 7NEWS

Emergency services advised residents to keep windows, doors, and vents closed due to the risk of toxic smoke.

As of 2:50 pm, NSW Ambulance reported no injuries.

Photo: Dense black smoke is pouring from a factory in Western Sydney/7NEWS

This is the second fire at the facility in recent years. In April 2022, a similar blaze at the site injured one man and took firefighters over two hours to control.