1500 evacuated as SOPAC carpark burns

Fire wreaked havoc at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday October 13 as a bushfire spread through a carpark, incinerating cars and sending black plumes of smoke over Homebush Bay.

Large numbers of schoolchildren and parents were reportedly at an inter-school carnival at the adjacent athletic centre and up to 1500 people were evacuated from the aquatic centre. No injuries were reported.

It is believed a dropped cigarette may have been behind the ignition of the grass fire that quickly spread across the car park, incinerating 47 cars and damaging more than 30 others. Witnesses reported explosions every twenty minutes as petrol tanks and tyres exploded.

Extreme temperatures and hot winds contributed to the situation and up to 50 firefighters battled the blaze as the wind drove the fire across the lines of parked cars.

A long line of car owners queued up to give statements to police, and many were left without transport to get home.

Police say if a dropped cigarette was to blame, charges may be pressed. They will be searching CTV footage.

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