Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a fire that damaged a grain silo at Condobolin, in the state's Central West, overnight.
The blaze broke out around 8 pm in a loader vehicle, inside the concrete structure, at a major grain storage facility on Silo Road.
NSW Rural Fire Service
FRNSW quickly deployed eight firefighters and two fire trucks to the scene, including specialists in hazardous materials response. The NSW Rural Fire Service provided additional crews in support.
They were confronted by large flames that were impacting the silo, containing up to 4,000 tons of wheat, and the system used to load the crops into it.
Concerns of a possible dust explosion
Fire crews began attacking the blaze from outside the silo due to concerns of a possible dust explosion
Twelve workers were evacuated from the area, while a train stationed near the silo was relocated as a precaution.
Fire crews began attacking the blaze from outside the silo due to concerns of a possible dust explosion, and low visibility caused by thick smoke cover.
ventilated the structure before firefighters
They ventilated the structure before firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, safely moved to further douse the fire from an open entrance to the silo.
The fire was extinguished after more than five hours of attack. Smoke is expected to linger around the site for the next 24 to 48 hours.