Hyundai warehouse further damaged in fire

HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia (HMCA) is still on track to rebuild its parts facility in Sydney’s west, despite a massive fire yesterday finishing what a storm had started just three months ago.

More than 100 fire fighters were needed to control the blaze, which saw 90 people from the surrounding area evacuated.

Huge plumes of smoke were visible right across Sydney, while a private Porsche owner’s track day at the adjacent Sydney Motorsport Park was temporarily suspended as smoke drifted over the track.

Demolition work was underway at the site on Peter Brock Drive, but no one was inside the facility at the time of the fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW personnel were still at the site the following morning, using heavy earthmoving machinery to mop up the smouldering debris.

“We don’t know what started the fire at this stage,” said HMCA public relations general manager Bill Thomas. “Thankfully no one was there at the time, and no one was hurt.”

The warehouse was severely damaged in a storm that swept through Sydney’s west on ANZAC Day, which fell on Saturday 25 April this year, and when the facility was closed.

The company wrote-off more than $2.5 million worth of spares when the roof of the 30,000m2 warehouse collapsed. HMCA was able to resume its spares service within ten days, and is currently operating out of two facilities in Sydney's west, both run by HMCA’s parts division Mobis.

The temporary arrangements have fielded more than 2000 pallets of local and overseas parts in the last eight weeks.

“The plan is – or was – to rebuild on the same site within 12 months,” said Mr Thomas. “The damage will be assessed in coming days and we’ll go from there.”

Mr Thomas was able to make light of the situation. “What’s next a plague of locusts?” he quipped to GoAuto.