Welshpool fire emergency
A Welshpool family business has been gutted by fire this afternoon.
Workers from neighbouring businesses were forced to flee their workplaces when they noticed a burning smell and smoke coming from the mechanical equipment business Levanta’s premises on Beete Street just before 1pm.
About 60 firefighters from Belmont, Kensington, Perth and Welshpool stations had the blaze under control by about 3pm.
Nobody was inside the building at the time.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services incident controller Tony Nicholas said the blaze was contained to the one building.
“The internal part of the building will need a complete re-fit out and the structure itself we will make a determination on later,” Mr Nicholas said.
Firefighters battle blaze at Welshpool factory. Picture: Sharon Smith/The West Australian
Marketing coordinator Hayly Gauci, who works at a business across the road, said the lights at her work started flickering before she and her colleagues were evacuated.
“There was just a big cloud of smoke, really, and then a lot of flames, followed by quite a few explosions,” Ms Gauci said.
“It was quite scary. It’s a great company so it’s quite sad to see it in flames.
“We’re just thankful no one was inside.”
Storeman Curtley Nicole, who works next door, said he was sitting outside when he smelt smoke.
He said the flames reached about a metre above the roof of the building.
“A massive cloud of black smoke came up and we were all told to get out,” he said.
Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Beete Street remains closed and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Anyone who noticed any suspicious behaviour in the area is asked to report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Department of Environment Regulation representatives assessed the air quality and determined it was not a risk to the community.
