More than 2500 people, including children competing in a swimming carnival, have been evacuated from the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre after solar panels on its roof caught fire.
Six fire trucks and 24 Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters were called to the building at 12.15pm today after reports of black smoke coming from the building.
Crews used a ladder platform to attack the flames on the roof of the facility and contained the blaze within 45 minutes.
Children attending the NSW Combined High School swimming carnival were among those forced to evacuate the facility, with many still in their swimsuits.
All people within the Centre were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
With the Centre now closed, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) advised on social media “we thank all of our patrons and staff for their patience and cooperation during this time.”
The swimming carnival was to run over three days with a large number of students travelling from regional NSW to participate.
The solar photovoltaic panel system on SOPAC’s roof was installed in 2021 as part of a Sydney Olympic Park Authority project to install solar arrays on buildings across the precinct. SOPAC’s panels generate about 1.4MW per year.
In October 2013, a large grass fire ripped through the Centre's carpark, destroying more than 40 cars, one motorcycle and forcing 1,500 people to evacuate.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of today’s fire.
Image and video: Fire damage to the solar panels on the roof of the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSW.
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well as caring for Stella the pug.
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