90 Firefighters Stop Adelaide Blaze From Igniting Batteries

When flames erupted at a commercial building in Adelaide's Croydon Park, 90 firefighters faced down explosions and toxic smoke to protect their community from something far more dangerous: solar batteries that could have turned a serious fire into a neighborhood catastrophe.

The blaze broke out before midday at the corner of Regency Road and South Road, sending huge plumes of smoke visible from surrounding suburbs and the hills. Within minutes, the fire had spread rapidly through the dual-business building, fueled by prevailing winds pushing flames toward the back where solar batteries were stored.

Commander Declan Dwyer of the Metropolitan Fire Service described crews arriving to find "several explosions" already underway. The fire was deep-seated in the center of the building and spreading quickly in all directions, creating an incredibly dangerous situation.

But the firefighters acted fast. Their priority became clear: keep the flames away from the solar batteries at all costs.

Despite the extreme heat and toxic fumes, the 90-person crew deployed 22 fire appliances and worked strategically to contain the spread. Some batteries from home solar energy systems were heat-damaged, but firefighters managed to prevent the fire from actually reaching them.

The Bright Side

While the damage bill sits at roughly $3.5 million and the investigation will take days, what didn't happen matters just as much as what did. The solar batteries, if ignited, could have created a chain reaction of explosions putting nearby homes and businesses at serious risk.

Several firefighters needed treatment for heat stress in the intense conditions, but there were no serious injuries reported. The team's coordinated response meant residents in the surrounding area stayed safe, even as police issued a Dangerous Area declaration to keep people clear of the toxic smoke.

The MFS says there's currently nothing to suggest the fire was suspicious. Their extensive investigation will determine the exact cause, which appears to have started near the solar panel area.

In a situation that could have spiraled into a community-wide emergency, 90 dedicated firefighters turned a potential disaster into a contained incident.