By Chris Nicholls
SYDNEY: Dick Smith Electronics’ Gore Hill store, located in Sydney’s lower north shore, has been forced to close for an indefinite period after a fire started there yesterday and forced the evacuation of the shop and the five storey building it occupies.
The electrical fire originated in the store room of the store and has caused some stock damage, along with smoke damage to part of the sales floor, according to a Dick Smith Electronics spokesperson.
All staff were evacuated safely, as were other workers in the building. In total, approximately 40 people were evacuated.
The fire first drew media attention as it forced radio station 2UE, which also occupies the same building, to cancel its 3 pm news bulletin due to the fire. It was apparently the first time a news bulletin had not gone to air in the station’s 13 year history.
The Dick Smith Electronics spokesperson said due to the fire brigade still occupying the building (at the time of the interview), it was difficult to judge stock damage levels or how badly the store had been affected. A re-opening time was also difficult to confirm, they said.
Superintendent Craig Brierley of New South Wales Fire Services said while there was not “too much” damage, the building filled with “a lot of smoke” quickly.
Brierley said fire fighters would investigate the cause after cleaning out the premises and ventilating smoke.