Six-Alarm Fire Engulfs Sydney Paper Mill With 80 Firefighters Responding

A major fire erupted at the Opal Paper Mill in Matraville, Sydney's east, quickly escalating to a six-alarm blaze driven by strong south-westerly winds. Fire and Rescue NSW deployed over 80 firefighters and around 25 fire trucks to tackle the rapidly spreading fire, which also ignited nearby vehicles, burning at least seven cars in an adjoining car park. Despite the scale and intensity of the fire, all staff have been safely accounted for, and authorities have since declared the blaze contained and under control. Firefighters continue to monitor the situation, working to assess any additional vehicle damage, while urging the public to avoid the area due to heavy smoke and ongoing emergency operations. Specialized resources including aerial appliances and hazardous materials teams were deployed to manage the complex incident. The fire remains a developing situation with firefighting efforts ongoing to fully extinguish the flames and secure the site.