Local fights car blaze

Paul Reynolds and an unknown Navy recruit risked their lives to extinguish two cars ablaze in the carpark of units in Woolloomooloo early last Tuesday evening.

Locals in Sydney Place, near the Community Garden in McElhone Street, spotted the blaze behind a locked garage door and alerted Mr Reynolds who had access to a swipe card to open the doors.

Inside he found a 1990s Ford LTD with fire roaring from inside the cabin. The flames were reaching the roof and the adjacent car had caught alight. He said the car belonged to a resident in the block.

He grabbed one of three fire hoses in the large garage and advanced towards the car, spraying the flames.

A passing Sailor from Garden Island known only as Nick asked the gathering crowd the name of the lone firefighter and followed him into the room which was choked with thick black, blue and purple smoke.

He told Mr Reynolds to “Get down low,” where there was less smoke, and followed him into the room with his hand on his shoulder.

“The fire just kept going and going,” said Mr Reynolds. “Every time I thought it was nearly out it would just flame up again.”

The pair advanced to within about 15 paces from the car, both worried about the petrol tank blowing.

Eventually the flames went out, Mr Reynolds by this time short of breath, dizzy and with lungs burning from the toxic smoke.

Meanwhile the Fire Brigade had been called but were sent to the front of the unit block in Brougham Street which is separated from McElhone Street by a sandstone cliff. McElhone street is also closed and blocked at that point so the first of three fire trucks to attend had to detour via Brougham Lane near William Street.

The first truck arrived just as the fire was put out.

“They came in, shouting and screaming ‘Get out, get out now’,’ said Mr Reynolds.

“I thought I had done the wrong thing and apologised to one of the firemen but he said I had done the right thing and there was no need to say sorry.”

“He saw I was in a bit of trouble and gave me a chair to sit on, some water and an oxygen mask.”

An ambulance was called and Mr Reynolds, who is 46, was taken to hospital for a blood test and checks and was released after two hours.

“They told me smoke like that could stuff up your lungs and you could die,” he said.

Mr Reynolds thinks the fire had been deliberately lit.

“There was a container near the car that looked like a petrol container, and at least one of the windows was open.”

He said it felt like about 20 minutes before the Fireys arrived but Inspector Paul Johnson from the Brigade said logs showed the first truck was on the move two minutes after the call and had arrived in 11 minutes.

Inspector Johnson said 20 people were evacuated until the smoke cleared and the building checked. They were allowed back inside at 7.10pm.

The fire had burnt out the lights on the garage ceiling, and Mr Reynolds said both cars were write-offs.

Residents further up the street near William Street said they smelt a strong electrical fire smell.

Inspector Johnson said car fires usually gave off a strong plastic smell, as did burning light fittings.

Police also attended and are investigating the cause of the fire.

by Michael Gormly