NSW Fire and Rescue evacuated a 800 metre radius of Denison Street in Banksmeadow while working to move six bulk tankers of “highly flammable” hydrogen cylinders at the base of the tower.
Business in the streets surrounding the Qenos facility were evacuated and roads were blocked off as crews spent an hour and a half working to remove hydrogen cylinders, completing the task at 4pm.
A smaller exclusion zone has been set up around the tower while the risk of collapse remains.
NSW Fire and Rescue deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the roads and businesses surrounding the plant had reopened.
“The major concern we had is if there had been further structural collapse and it had then fallen onto the bulk hydrogen cylinders, were that to happen there was potential for an uncontrolled release of hydrogen,” Fewtrell said.
“Hydrogen is highly flammable and we could have potentially had a large explosion if all those things had not been put in place.”
He said they had no further concerns for the public but the significant damage would need close assessment by technical experts.
The incident began when Qenos chemical manufacture staff identified a major fault in the cooling tower and called emergency services about 9.15am.
“Flames were seen pouring from a cooling tower as specialist staff undertook a controlled burn to stop the flow of gas, predominantly ethylene,” NSW Fire and Rescue said in a statement.
“At that stage, concerns were raised about the possibility the tower could collapse.
“If it had given way, the structure would have likely fallen onto six trailers, each storing 1,700 cubic metres of potentially-explosive hydrogen.”
Crews then created a detailed plan to remove the hydrogen cylinders.
“FRNSW firefighters ended up rigging up the tractor unit to each trailer, one by one, and relocating them, with the hydrogen cylinders, to a safe location.
“The earlier precautionary evacuation notice has now been withdrawn, with people able to return to homes and businesses in the area.”
