Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have now gained the upper hand on a major fire which has destroyed two multi-story buildings in Surry Hills.
The blaze broke out on Randle Street just after 4 pm and was later upgraded to a '10th alarm', the most severe type of fire.
FRNSW's Incident Controller
They successfully stopped the blaze from engulfing other nearby buildings, including residential flats
More than 100 firefighters were called to the scene from multiple stations across Sydney and have been battling the flames from a safe distance.
Using specialist appliances and equipment, including ladder trucks and RPAS (drones), they successfully stopped the blaze from engulfing other nearby buildings, including residential apartments.
A short time ago, FRNSW's Incident Controller declared the fire is contained.
Firefighting operations
Firefighting operations are expected to continue throughout the night, with crews to be rotated through to ensure their safety and well-being. An exclusion zone remains in place, with the public urged to avoid the area.
People living in the vicinity of the fire scene should keep their windows and external doors closed to prevent the potential impacts of smoke. Once the blaze is extinguished, FRNSW's Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) will work closely with NSW Police to investigate the cause of the fire.