Balcatta fire: HAZMAT warning issued as warehouse blaze blows potentially hazardous smoke

The arson squad will attend the scene of a factory fire in Balcatta to determine the cause of the blaze that has destroyed a family-owned furniture business.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services crews were called to the blaze on Stretton Place, in Balcatta’s industrial area, about 7.25pm on Tuesday.

Flames soaring tens of metres high could be seen from the front of the workshop-style building, which is understood to be a woodworking business International Cabinets.

Police say the blaze spread to nearby buildings, with several children at a nearby gymnastics class ordered to evacuate.

No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters are at the scene on Wednesday morning putting out spot fires. It is contained and controlled.

DFES downgraded a HAZMAT warning about 8.30am on Wednesday for a hazardous smoke.

“People in the surrounding area will no longer be impacted by hazardous smoke,” a spokesperson said.

“Continue to stay away from the area as emergency services are continuing to work in the area.”

Darling Range district officer Tim McGrade said at least one male firefighter was being treated for heat exhaustion as of 8.30pm.

“This is a woodworking business, cabinetry shop, and there is lots of timbers, lots of thinners, tools and wood dust . . . so it’s very volatile,” he said.

“The HAZMAT warning is due to their plastics, so all the laminates, potentially the glues, and the toxicity of the furnishings.

“The roof is collapsing, the walls are collapsing, so we’re not sending anyone in.”

Mr McGrade said a worker at the business called triple-0 after he investigated an activated alarm, before smoke was discovered.

Everyone managed to escape without injury moments before the warehouse was engulfed by flames.

“The firefighters rolled up in about 5-10 minutes and it was fully involved by the time they got here,” Mr McGrade continued.

“The fire is incorporating pretty much the whole building, I can’t give you square meters because I don’t know, but what we’re trying to do now is just protect exposures — those other operating businesses on either side — and that’s our current mission.

DFES fire investigation officers and the arson squad will attend the scene on Wednesday to establish the cause of the blaze.

The cause remains unknown.

A large group of people, understood to be the owners of the business, were at the scene on Tuesday night, speaking with firefighters and police.

Firefighters will continue working to control the blaze overnight, with Mr McGrade expecting crews to be at the scene “for days”.