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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/blaze-barangaroo-building-site-sydney-harbour
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fierce Barangaroo fire fuels fear of crane collapse | Fierce Barangaroo fire fuels fear of crane collapse |
| (6 months later) | |
| Extreme heat from a basement fire at Sydney’s Barangaroo construction site was preventing firefighters identifying the cause of a blaze that threatened to bring down a multi-storey crane. | Extreme heat from a basement fire at Sydney’s Barangaroo construction site was preventing firefighters identifying the cause of a blaze that threatened to bring down a multi-storey crane. |
| Authorities and developer Lend Lease said all workers had been evacuated from the site and there were no reports of injuries, while buildings around the site were also being emptied. | Authorities and developer Lend Lease said all workers had been evacuated from the site and there were no reports of injuries, while buildings around the site were also being emptied. |
| More than 100 firefighters and 20 trucks were pumping water from surrounding streets to extinguish the blaze and targeting the bottom of the crane, which had been burning from 2pm. | More than 100 firefighters and 20 trucks were pumping water from surrounding streets to extinguish the blaze and targeting the bottom of the crane, which had been burning from 2pm. |
| The fire forced a thick plume of smoke hundreds of metres in the air with about 500 site workers and 2,000 office workers from nearby buildings evacuated. | The fire forced a thick plume of smoke hundreds of metres in the air with about 500 site workers and 2,000 office workers from nearby buildings evacuated. |
| “That crane has been exposed to an amount of heat and our engineers inform us that if it continues to be exposed to heat there could be a risk of the crane collapsing,” a Fire and Rescue spokesman, Ian Krimmer, said at the scene. “For that reason we have evacuated the surrounding areas.” | “That crane has been exposed to an amount of heat and our engineers inform us that if it continues to be exposed to heat there could be a risk of the crane collapsing,” a Fire and Rescue spokesman, Ian Krimmer, said at the scene. “For that reason we have evacuated the surrounding areas.” |
| The crane was estimated to be about 25 storeys high at its present extension. | The crane was estimated to be about 25 storeys high at its present extension. |
| The fire was burning across two levels of the site, however the heat was so strong thermal imaging cameras had “blown out” and were unable to pinpoint the seat of the blaze. | The fire was burning across two levels of the site, however the heat was so strong thermal imaging cameras had “blown out” and were unable to pinpoint the seat of the blaze. |
| Hazmat crews were monitoring the smoke, and lasers aimed at the top of the crane would tell rescuers if it moved or not. | Hazmat crews were monitoring the smoke, and lasers aimed at the top of the crane would tell rescuers if it moved or not. |
| “Crane collapses can be quite dramatic if they occur,” Krimmer said. “They tend to twist and then topple over. That twisting means we can’t predict where it will fall, if it was to fall.” | “Crane collapses can be quite dramatic if they occur,” Krimmer said. “They tend to twist and then topple over. That twisting means we can’t predict where it will fall, if it was to fall.” |
| Firefighters and police shut nearby roads, including major arteries to the city, causing peak-hour traffic chaos. | Firefighters and police shut nearby roads, including major arteries to the city, causing peak-hour traffic chaos. |
| The Barangaroo area is being redeveloped as a residential and retail hub, with plans for a “high-rollers” casino owned by billionaire James Packer. | The Barangaroo area is being redeveloped as a residential and retail hub, with plans for a “high-rollers” casino owned by billionaire James Packer. |
| Lend Lease’s chief operating officer, Dan Labbad, said engineers would begin dismantling the crane on Wednesday night, even if engineers said it was still structurally sound. | Lend Lease’s chief operating officer, Dan Labbad, said engineers would begin dismantling the crane on Wednesday night, even if engineers said it was still structurally sound. |
| Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union assistant state secretary Rob Kera said workers were upset about the blaze. | Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union assistant state secretary Rob Kera said workers were upset about the blaze. |
| “We conducted a full audit of the evacuation procedure on this site. To say it was an absolute disgrace is an understatement,” he said. | |
| “The men at this point and time are pretty upset, they are pretty devastated. | “The men at this point and time are pretty upset, they are pretty devastated. |
| “Our job at the end of the day is to ensure the safety of our members.” | “Our job at the end of the day is to ensure the safety of our members.” |