Emma Pritchard

Heavy black smoke billowed over Grafton’s CBD shortly after 4pm on December 28, as close to 70 firefighters and emergency services personnel fought to contain a large-scale fire which seriously damaged two properties in Fitzroy and Victoria Streets and impacted several nearby businesses.

A spokesperson for NSW Police said the blaze began in a storage area at the rear of the Australian Community Care Network (ACCN) in Fitzroy Street and quickly spread to the adjoining business in Victoria Street, Broomy’s Towing and Recovery.

As Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station Captain Garry Reardon and several of his crew members battled the flames from Victoria Street, Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station Deputy Captain Chris Rumpf undertook fire attack from Fitzroy Street.

Describing the blaze as extremely fierce, Captain Reardon said local crews were aided by firefighters from Ballina, Lismore, Goonellabah, Casino, Maclean, Yamba, Woolgoolga, and Coffs Harbour, along with Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews from Southampton, Ulmarra, Grafton, and Casino.

NSW Ambulance paramedics also attended the scene and treated several firefighters who suffered minor burns and dehydration as they fought to bring the fire under control and save neighbouring properties. 

No other injuries were reported.

“It was a massive blaze,” Captain Reardon said.

“It certainly took hold of the buildings very quickly.

“From Victoria Street, we had fire control within half an hour, but it was still roaring in Fitzroy Street.”

Deputy Captain Rumpf recalled being faced with a wall of flames upon his arrival at the scene, and said conditions were very hot and very intense.

As firefighters in breathing apparatuses valiantly doused the blaze, officers from the Coffs/Clarence Police District set up a perimeter and directed the public to clear the area as emergency services gained control of the situation.

Deputy Captain Rumpf confirmed several small explosions at the scene were triggered by aerosol cans within the ACCN, while hundreds of rounds of ammunition stored in a neighbouring building were carefully removed and relocated.

“Thankfully, the buildings next door only sustained smoke damage and carbon deposits, which are the black remnants on the sides of the exterior walls,” he said.

“The fire was quite extensive, and there was also a powerline that had been burned through.

“Luckily, Essential Energy were quickly on the scene.

“The weather was also pretty good in assisting us as we brought the fire under control, but there was quite a lot of damage to both buildings involved.”

Paul Danvers, Captain of South Grafton Fire and Rescue 307 Station, was among the earliest crews to arrive on the scene, and said everyone involved did an exceptional job.

“We had to commence fire attack from different locations,” he said.

“It was such a big fire, it took many hours to extinguish the blaze, and crew members remained at the scene overnight to ensure it didn’t spread further, but everyone did a great job.”

Manager of the ACCN Alison Tomlinson described the situation as a nightmare, and revealed the business lost more than 50 percent of its stock including numerous food and household items, a cool room, and a large freezer, and is currently unable to trade.

Dean Broomhall from Broomy’s Towing and Recovery confirmed they are still operating after their tow truck was saved from the flames which caused significant internal damage to their building.

Mr Broomhall, who was at the Victoria Street business with his father Greg Broomhall when the fire occurred, said he saw smoke coming over the boundary wall between the two properties after 4pm and rushed to ensure the building was evacuated before flames engulfed the premises.

“It’s just devastating,” he said.

“The fire travelled through the roof from next door into our place, and it just spread from there.

“We had cars, trucks, boats, and tools stored inside, and we’ve got a lot of heat damage which is quite bad.

“But we know it also could have been a lot worse.”

Officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District established a crime scene, and commenced investigations into the cause of the fire which is presently being treated as suspicious.

Anyone with additional information, any persons who were in the vicinity of Fitzroy and Victoria Streets, Grafton, before or after the fire broke out, or anyone with available dashcam or mobile phone footage is being urged to contact Grafton Police Station on 6642 0222, or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.