Firefighters are still working to extinguish a blaze that took hold of a Newcastle rug store last night.
Newcastle Fire and Rescue Crews were alerted around 11:25pm, arriving at Parry Street’s Rahmani’s Rug Gallery to find a raging fire.
Firies attempted to enter the building while fighting the flames, but the inferno escalated quickly, forcing them to retreat.
Smoke billowed from the building, making it hard for crews to find the source of the fire.
Around 50 firefighters worked for hours to get the blaze under control, as it threatened neighbouring buildings.
Five trucks were sent initially, before six more arrived as reinforcements, with firies using both hand hose lines and cherry pickers to attack the flames from all angles.
Engineers are on scene this morning, assessing the structural integrity of the building, while fire investigators begin their inspection.
Acting Superintendent Rob Jansen says the building is very unstable, with many parts of the rug store collapsing in.
“Being a rug place, there will be a lot of soldering material still,” said Supt. Jansen.
It’s expected Parry Street, between Stewart and Tudor Street, will be closed for the rest of today.
The fire has also caused minor damage to two other nearby properties.
The blaze is not being treated as suspicious.
