Footage from major building fire in Surry Hills

This video shows our footage in chronological order from 25 May 2023 4PM - 26 May 2023 11:30AM.
Update: 26 May 2023 1:30PM
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews today remain at the scene of a major fire in Surry Hills, dousing reignition points and assisting with investigations.
The blaze, which at its peak was declared a '10th alarm', destroyed two multi-storey buildings on Randle Street yesterday afternoon.
More than 120 FRNSW firefighters and 30 fire trucks, from multiple stations across Sydney, battled into the night to contain and extinguish the flames.
They managed to save several buildings, including adjoining residential apartments and office blocks on the opposite side of the road.
The fire is now out, but a small number of fire crews remain on-site, monitoring for potential flare-ups.
They are being assisted by FRNSW's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones, which are helping pinpoint potential areas of concern.
Significant structural collapse has occurred at the site.
Engineers and other experts monitoring the stability of what remains of the buildings.
An exclusion zone is currently in place in the vicinity of the fire scene and, at this stage, is expected to remain for at least seven days.
As a result, at least 50 nearby residents have been left displaced.
The advice for anyone who has been displaced and has not yet registered should do so via register.redcr...

[@staticbuilds7613]

Showing the damage to the other buildings really help to show how dangerous and immense the heat is from the fire.

[@mr.polemikus4933]

Let me dare a vague hint about it ...painted wooden slabs and planks instead of concrete castings and brick floors ...just a guess....

[@ChemEDan]

@@mr.polemikus4933 brick floors?

[@cv507]

ZyR€NN bee like ´Vennärr töö döch vvätt xXD sypörp hyllce unlike mb?..? ´Fööyähr n Flännnäh vFfv ´Zikkceyce ön Fläyme ^ ^ 4:20 leid... RädiäX ^?^ ´´Victhörryy

[@Joe-sn6ir]

or how PHYSICALLY DANGEROUS cities are??? we already know how dangerous they are due to criminals. and how dangerous they are politically because only idiots live in such cramped quarters and then vote for idiot leftists.

[@NathanM4A1]

Yup, just goes to show what the men and women who fight fires experience. Really drives home that when they say its burning hot, even under all their bunker gear, they really mean it.

[@FlorenceSlugcat]

This video shows the importance of two things. The importance of keeping nearby building cool to prevent the spread on other buildings, such as the one infront And the effectiveness of firewalls, which allowed to keep the buildings next door from the two that burned from going down aswell

[@dylanmaxard5822]

I mean the first point is kinda valid but this one looks more like a case of radiant heat

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Yep. I sometimes work for a Nam vet who was an assistant fire chief, who told me about this. Now I snicker at folks who wonder why an FD waste water on a neighboring structure that is not ablaze! Jk.

[@argentum530]

This fire shows why sprinkler systems are so important. It's like having a hundred firefighter on scene already working to extinguish the fire when you arrive.

[@alexandragrace8164]

Absolutely terrifying. I walked passed the ruined building yesterday - there were still so many fire trucks, firefighters, police officers, engineers, and reporters there. Thank you to the firefighters for working so hard and facing dangerous conditions to protect the city from this fire. I sure hope those kids learned their lesson, and I hope that the Cadaver Dogs do not find any bodies in the rubble. 😢

[@davepowell7168]

Cadaver dogs are also used for diagnosis, amazing creatures

[@zamistro]

What was the cause? Kids you say?

[@nntflow7058]

@@zamistro Well, since it's 2023. We gotta blame it on the Feminists this time.

[@Loza_1703]

@@nntflow7058is this supposed to be a joke? I can’t tell if it is supposed to be or not because i kinda want to laugh at it but i don’t wanna mess it up

[@nntflow7058]

@@Loza_1703 Remember, If you messed it up, keep blaming it on all women.

[@maxmouche]

Thanks a lot for sharing this and keeping the community informed. As a Surry Hills local who lives only a few minutes from the building, I’m thankful for the work of all the emergency services. Hope you’ll upload more great footage like this from yesterday and the days that will follow so as to keep us up to date.

[@ronfreniere8769]

Haven't seen that much fire, since I was a kid growing up in a factory city. Watching the old factories burn. Hope there were no severe injuries to anyone who was related to this incident. Thank you to all firefighters everywhere for protecting the citizens of your coverage area.

[@willydmoore3921]

Wow, Hollywood couldn’t even create a fire scene as intense and dynamic as this one. Great job to the fire crews and you for the amazing recording. From USA, kudos.

[@duncil85]

That is 💯 true! Great job knocking down that fire and awesome documentary skills!!! More kudos from the USA

[@newenglandcoast7121]

What a huge fire, I hope no one was hurt. Incredible effort by the firefighters!

[@digger26]

Great video. Was really nice the way you covered things after the fire was out. Too many of these videos end with building still smoking and no explanations. Yours is the best!

[@usafman8864]

Exactly

[@leokimvideo]

Poor Pigeons, lost their homes & little ones in this blaze. You can see them attempting rescues just as the wall collapses.

[@DrTWG]

Thanks . Good observation - even if I'd spotted it I wouldn't have known the significance - I've learned something.

[@usafman8864]

​@@DrTWG True, well said.

[@davepowell7168]

The heroism of the pigeons surpasses the firefighters

[@defeatSpace]

those little shits are probably the cause

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

🙄

[@patbarlen2764]

What a horrific fire. Thanks for posting, good job

[@hana.the.writer5074]

Horrific, yes but nothing close to real horror opposite to Grenfell Tower fire, UK. That tower turned to ashes in less than half an hour. There’s a documentary on it on KZbin.

[@TheBaritoneCrooner]

Keeping frontages facing the fire cool is so vitally important to stop the spread. Great work by your fire brigades. 😉

[@MK-kv8bm]

Great work to all the FRNSW on this job and all you do. Thank you.

[@jix177]

Amazing how effectively it was contained. Relatively little damage to the building across the street, and the two attached buildings don't even look lightly singed!

[@FlorenceSlugcat]

Well actually one of the two attached buildings did burn. But the ones of each sides of thoses two burned down buildings didnt. It appears that the building next to it had a portion of the main building collapse and fall on top it it, since it is much lower. The pictures makes me believe all that burning materials fell down on it and trough its roof, inside of the building which probably is the reason it couldnt be contained.

[@locoslococo]

I met a lovely Australian firefighter in London UK area.He had accumilated about a years worth of leave / holidays and was travelling around world for a year.he had been a fireman for quite a few years and now worked in fire prevention. One of the questions i asked him was, Did he miss being a fireman on active call? What he told me was something like ..He liked his work fighting fires but generally by the time he arrived on a call the fire had taken hold of the structure and often it resulted in exhuming remains of humans from the fire..He said that he found his prevention work saved many more lives getting smoke detectors and alarms fitted..Keep up the good work chaps and ladies Regards from UK.

[@Cre8tvMG]

Hey gents - thanks for all you do to help keep us safe. You run towards danger and we respect that.

[@Kamil_O]

Great footage and amazing work done by firefighters,

[@suzylarry1]

that was a intense fire , the heat must have been horrendous . not much to investigate with the build falling in and around . A early report just after the fire started , there were videos of folks in the Restaurant across the street before fire entered the customers were sitting at tables eating and watching before evacuations . Hope no injuries

[@stevepunter3704]

The heat that would be coming from that would be unbelievable.

[@NeilM01989]

Liked and shared, hope everyone is alright and no lives lost. Especially the firefighters

[@Low.quality.aviation]

My father is a firefighter. Here in montana, we mostly get barns on fire plus the occasional house fire. Nothing like this. Probably the closest thing to this fire we’ve had is when a Grain Elevator burned down.

[@judyphilibert6921]

I read your comment. With you living in a State that has forest along it's (North) Western Border, I'm sure your Dad has participated in forest fire containment, either in your region or elsewhere in the US. Please pass on my "Thanks!" and gratitude for the risks he takes for all of us. 👏🏻🎖🍁

[@clive8907]

Hope everyone got out safely,, great job done by the fire fighters,keep up the good work,,,from Cheltenham UK.

[@lnteIIigence]

1:58 That silence after it collapsed 😨

[@21lt]

Great job! Glad nobody was hurt. Greeting from San Antonio, Texas (SAFD) USA.

[@Thespiansewist]

My brother was in nsw fire brigade for over forty years and loved everyday serving as firemen.Special citizens I say thank you for serving and protecting the community

[@wcresponder]

Surprising to see so few monitors....I guess they aren't standard kit on the rigs. Great job on the minimal collateral damage. Good to hear no serious injury or fatalities.

[@born_analogic_tik_die_digital]

Spectacular video from the drone & amazing how these machines help in so many ways nowadays

[@joegaito702]

Let's stop and hope everyone is doing ok the paramedics and firemen deserve a lot of credit your service and time and efforts are deeply appreciated great job great catches as usual keep them safe out there you guys rock thanks ! Joe

[@jenbrixton6834]

Thanks for sharing, such an amazing job done by all. Sending all my love from Worcester UK ❤ stay safe

[@Lithane97]

One ladder truck for a 6-story building, fully engulfed? That's actually wild.

[@jurgenkuhlmann9194]

The collapse of the fire building was truly shocking! Glad no one was hurt!

[@greggreg2263]

Super scary those flames 🔥 were absolutely beautiful when the building fell apart😮

[@christiangibbs8534]

A few things stand out in this video: #1: Undying respect and gratitude for the first responders who don't hesitate to put themselves in front of, under, and even inside of burning, collapsing buildings. These people save lives, often at the cost of their own. I salute you. #2: Too many people underestimate the complexity of firefighting. Imagine coordinating over 100 firefighters, looking out for their safety, evacuation of victims, crowd control, assessing and re-assessing the weakening structural integrity of the building, protecting other nearby buildings, use of technology... Firefighting is part courage, part science, and part chaos. The fire fighters did an amazing job here. #3: Drones... Freakin' awesome. #4: Did anyone else notice the way that the vehicles on the road stopped and stayed where they were to make room for first responders? Even though they had green lights, they didn't move! Utah drivers, take note!

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

*Captions for the Deaf:* (Upvote please, since auto-generation not working for start of video.) (Sirens over Radio Speech - Presumed Commander) 0:00 to 1:15 : "Ok, ___ we're gonna _____ outside the ____ zone...we've got a building fully-involved. "To all crews (at the) fire grounds...I want everyone outside the collapse zone...it's fully-involved...we're going (for a) defensive strategy." New male speaker on radio: "____ I'll come to you through ______" (I can't make it out - street name?) Voices from inside the car (Soft, in awe) Passenger: "Just take your time (navigating through the traffic.)" Reply of Driver to Passenger: "Yup. You'll have to tell me where to stage...sorry, where to locate...you'll be in charge, I imagine? (Sees flames, exclaims) Far out!" Passenger: "Let's find out what type of building it is...here will do." (To park.) Driver: "Here? Coming in, behind the heavy?" Passenger: "Just stop here...back up..." _Speech ends until captions begin working at __4:05_ Please fill in blanks if anyone can make them out.

[@josephastier7421]

Thank you for including the thumbnail scene in your video.

[@phillip_mcguinness7025]

Owner: Oooooh nooooo, my old building caught fire in the middle of this recently gentrified neighborhood. However will I recover?

[@KevinCovington5453]

WOW! THAT WAS SOME VERY! IMPRESSIVE FIRE FIGHTING! Anticipating that collapse and having it sealed off, Just TREMENDOUS WORK! Branson, Missouri - USA

[@mrdouglasfromthedepartment8440]

Thank you FRNSW👍

[@silentblackhole]

Well done! Thank you to all the services personal!

[@davidsouthwell8196]

Thank you 👍 for your quick response

[@kasyndri]

absolute and genuine heroes. i imagine many many many centuries ago, whole villages would go up in flames because they didn't have the superheroes involved in saving everyone shown here. thank you, thank you, and thank you ✨

[@1FatHappyBirthday]

And this my friends is why my house is nowhere near other buildings. Would never live in an apartment either. Because other people catch their house on fire and take mine with it!

[@davepowell7168]

App. Still not available to check all friends for latent pyromania 😔

[@flowerredanna8890]

Gracias por su trabajo

[@AdeDueDamballa.]

1:48 The pigeon was like ‘oo i’ll rest here, YEAH NOPE’

[@The0311gruntUSMC]

What a job. I like how traffic completely stopped allowing the responding units to quickly and safely respond to the incident. Unlike New Yorkers! Stay safe.

[@davidimhoff2118]

I can't imagine losing your home and pets. Ugh. What a huge fire.

[@user-rh9xq4ne4t]

thank you for your hard work 🚒🚒🚒

[@jddr.jkindle9708]

Great defense effort on saving other nearby buildings!

[@Og-Judy]

That first building was lost before the first fire services got there. The intensity could have gutted so much more. How awful for all concerned.

[@AlexKall]

Very well done by the fire crew! Sorry to everyone effected by this fire, must be truly horrific!

[@marugg78]

Massive respect for the poor souls who have to clean that mess up

[@CheeseMiser]

That's why we have bulldozers, tnt, and hi-hos

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Drone damage assessment is a genius move.

[@RaceBanner_]

Its fascinating that even though you’re down under, the flames still shoot upwards. I know the toilets run backwards but I guess fire is different.

[@janjanssen9629]

What on earth was fueling this fire… seemed to be more intense then what you would expect from a living environment…

[@glendamears3618]

Thankyou so much , Brave men and women ❤❤❤

[@scottspropertyservices6877]

4:02 what brand toolbox is that? Survived better than the whole ute!

[@HarrisonBorbarrison]

What a chilling video. I would hate to be in such a situation.

[@Liguehunters]

And that's the reason why we protect the exposure.

[@patrick247two]

Thank you.

[@EnidAgnusDei]

Jesus that sure is going well.

[@JesusofNazareth-vv9pj]

Thanks for the name drop buddy!!

[@EnidAgnusDei]

@@JesusofNazareth-vv9pj Nice one!

[@wiley8976]

That’s a wicked big fire. Nice job. Glad everyone was safe

[@alancotton8404]

Amazing Containment, Stopping the fire from bing able to spread to all the other Buildings. 👏

[@TradieTrev]

Huge fire guys! Well done keeping it contained!

[@desireegoulett69]

I don't like buildings with common walls....it's so hard to stop fires from spreading once fully engulfed with zero seperation between structures.

[@Luschine]

So sad. Two beautiful old buildings utterly destroyed. Will surely be replaced by ugly modern ones.

[@eddybowe2953]

hopefully no one was injured in this. great job in putting out the fire and keeping it from spreading to other buildings.

[@firefighterfan2010]

What an huge flames!🚒👨‍🚒

[@robertlewis7237]

THANK YOU FOR SUPER DETAILED VIDEO AS SHOW HOW DANGER WAS ROUND THE AREA AND SAFETY IN LOT AREA . THANK YOU TO ALL PERSON AND PEOPLE DO THIS JOB AND POLICE AND OTHER SERVICE IN NSW

[@backpages1]

Big fire…good video!

[@espy0008]

amazing construction, the last time I saw a building on fire like that it collapsed fully into its own footprint.

[@DrDeuteron]

buildings are metastable, both chemically and gravitationally. This one has found a lower energy state.

[@rhondagrace1370]

This is the first time I've seen in this detail footage of the aftermath of a fire, good job, although I really hate this happened the affect of this is terrible.

[@LJ11420]

10 Alarm! Damn! This is a big fire.

[@dontask8979]

Not everyone knows where this is. I see no mention of a city. Edit "New South Wales" 👍 With world wide viewers, it just makes sense to me to add location in the description. Great footage. That wall facia coming down and didn't miss a beat.

[@stuzworldz]

Well done Video Editing and Drone footage💥...that Brick building contained that SIZE FIRE Exceptionaly well....prayers🙏 to all displaced ...much love from Californias🌲Coastline...

[@laurie7689]

I don't know if those were homes or businesses, but that is why I will never live in an apartment. I won't live in anything but a single family home. Even if my home burns, or my neighbor's home burns, there is a chance that the other homes will be safe. No more than one or two families would be displaced. Having multi-unit buildings crammed next to each other with a multitude of people is a major fire hazard in which people lose their homes or they lose their jobs.

[@AwakenedWookie]

This block will now be developed quicker than you can say "insurance job". Everytime this kind of thing happens, the investors and developers already magically have plans for the site ready to go.

[@slayerr4365]

Still looks more in shape the most of the buildings around my city

[@Kaczorek2366]

What caused the fire? In general, four buildings are suitable for demolition. The temperature of the fire was so high that a neighboring building was set on fire. Paw up 👍

[@martinbielby334]

OMG that's bad I hope everyone got out of there safe and sound!! Looks like it was empty

[@travelingdude33914]

How damaged is the exterior concrete next door from the heat? Is the building still structurally sound?

[@jayswarrow1196]

I'm impressed by couple of things here: 1) Blinds that melt down by a nearby inferno, rather than go f-womp! and taking the room in seconds.. some polymer high-techs.. 2) Firewall between the buildings: the new one seem to be unaffected (well, maybe abit advanced on the heating bill at the end of the month). Some architects.. 3) Effective work of fire brigade. I've seen a cottage blaze taking half-o-village in matter of minutes, yet, this multistory inferno caused only light melts around itself. Some Blokes at work!

[@OregonCrow]

Well done team.

[@51hankyspanky7]

Superb job mates!

[@timeversman9804]

Great job guys

[@deadbrother5355]

I saw a kitted out jimny in traffic. I love those.

[@tmilesffl]

Crazy damage, to think that building had floors and was occupied at one time.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

so what was stored in there to make such a fire ?

[@Mrbfgray]

Cool footage, sad to see historic structure lost along with all it implies.

[@crisespinoza1979]

Any idea what caused this? It was so massive. I hope no firefighter was injured.

[@roger0929]

A bunch of teen-age Murdoch-programmed fascist hooligans.

[@juant3969]

I’ve never heard or seen a 10th alarm fire. That was insane to watch the intensity of the blaze in the building….

[@judyphilibert6921]

Thank you for posting this video, great footage. Excellent job by the emergency/fire service workers, could have been SO much worse. Hoping there were no lives lost 🙏🏻...everything else can be rebuilt. Pretty scary for the residents of Surry Hills 😟

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

A major negative of having buildings literally joined to other buildings everywhere.

[@3dsmaxrocks699]

WTC 7 was completely destroyed and wasn't on fire nowhere near the level this building was.

[@Oriordan9]

Awesome saves all around. Great ride along 👍

[@jamesburton1050]

Wow! What was the building and what happened?

[@williamschlenger1518]

I haven't seen anything burn like that since the London blitz.

[@BritishEngineer]

That fire alarm still going in the burnt building is haunting.

[@englishkenny958]

the first thing I noticed was laying down water on the building across the street. Kudos to the men and women fighting this one. You deserve a pint or two at the end of your shift

[@centralcoastgirl1984]

My grandmother worked in that building when it was Henderson's Hats.

[@Jim_86]

Holy crap!😲😲