Around 50 employees at the Haverick Meats factory were evacuated on Saturday (21 May) morning after a fire erupted in an air-conditioning unit, which quickly spread through the factory’s insulation panels.
More than 100 firefighters had tried to battle the blaze over the weekend, but were unable to enter the building over fears that the walls and ceiling could collapse.
Black plumes of smoke were seen billowing out of the building as firemen used cherry picker trucks to stop the fire from spreading to neighbouring factories.
No injuries have been reported and the fire is not being treated as a suspicious incident by local authorities.
Haverick Meats is a family-run butcher and wholesaler. which supplies meat to some of the finest restaurants in Sydney. It also hosts the Haverick Academy, which provides butchery masterclasses and tasting sessions with leading Australian chefs.
A statement on the company’s Facebook page, posted on Saturday evening, said: “It is with deep and heartfelt regret that we write to you to inform you that the Haverick Meats factory has been involved in a fire.”
Haverick’s owner’s Peter and John Andrews said they would be operating a reduced service from a temporary location in Banksmeadow.