Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have battled for more than five hours to extinguish a fire that has destroyed the former iconic Commercial Hotel in Yass, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales.
More than 40 firefighters from FRNSW, Rural Fire Service, and ACT Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze on Comur Street, just before 2 am.
FRNSW aerial pumping truck
The fire was so severe that a specialist FRNSW aerial pumping truck was called in, so that the fire
With fire spreading quickly throughout the two-level building, the first firefighters on the scene requested urgent assistance, with the fire threatening to spread to adjoining properties, which included a carpet business.
The fire was so severe that a specialist FRNSW aerial pumping truck was called in so that the fire could be attacked from below and above.
Structural collapse of the outer walls
With the fire eventually extinguished after a six-hour battle, an exclusion zone was then established because of concern that there could be further structural collapse of the outer walls.
There were no injuries reported, although the fire is being treated as suspicious.