***VISION ALERT*** Firefighters and Port Authority prevent barge fire spreading to historic ferry - Berrys Bay
Published: 19 Aug 2024 01:48pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews and the Port Authority of NSW have fought a fire on board a barge, that’s threatened an historic ferry, at Berrys Bay on Sydney’s lower north shore.
FRNSW received a large number of Triple-Zero (000) calls about the blaze from the public, just after 7.15 last night.
Twenty-four firefighters from Lane Cove, Crows Nest, Neutral Bay, Mosman, The Rocks and the City of Sydney responded to the scene off Larkin Street at Waverton and discovered the barge well alight.
The crew of the Port Authority vessel, ‘The Girawaa,’ was first on scene and used boat-mounted water jets, called ‘monitors,’ to battle the flames from the water.
The Girawaa is Port Authority’s new multipurpose fire-fighting vessel, capable of spraying water up to 90 metres and pumping 16,000 litres of sea water per minute - equivalent to the capacity of four large fire engines.
The fire was extinguished in a two-hour operation, with booms put in place as a precaution to contain any hazardous material run-off.
Whilst the barge sank, fire crews were able to stop flames spreading to the historic ferry, ‘SS South Steyne,’ berthed nearby.
The site was handed over to NSW Police last night for further investigation.
Media note – FRNSW footage of the incident is available at: https://vimeo.com/1000169248/0dfb6b70ab?share=copy [external link]
Updated: 19 Aug 2024 01:53pm
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
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