Incident at the Canberra Centre

Well, if it wasn’t the hospital, I’m glad.
But to hear such a bang in Conder, that’s some distance. Hence, I’m now wondering what or who and with what?

I went down for a walk across the oval at about 7:40 with camera, hoping to get the scoop for the RIOT, but I didnt see anyone officious at all.

Earlier when I came home from work at about 6:15 there were red and blue lights flashing all over the hospital side of the park.

Perhaps some kids have discovered the fun to be had with oxy, acetylene and balloons, and been playing up Red Hill, only they must have found a weather balloon to create the bang that I heard…

Knowing people that work there and a couple who were visiting at the time I Just drove past The Canberra Hospital and observed

– Several regular tankers in attendence, parked about 1/2 way between the Maternity building (from memory) and Gilmore Cres.
-Large truck, either Hazardous materials/breathing gear (or both?)
-Several firies wandering around the sports oval next to Garran Primary School.

Having said that, I couldn’t see any obvious damage from my limited viewpoint from the car. Something definitely went bang _somewhere_ though.

I submitted what was on Win News a story an hour ago.
Was there an actual explosion since then?
Because I sounded like it was all under control the way Win News was talking at 6:05pm.
I did hear a loud sought of rumble and bang at around 7:10 and I’m in Conder. Hell.

Probably needs a new story line of it own, hate to imagine how much damage that one caused

OK, so *that’s* what that was? I FELT the explosion in Hughes (several Km.) Is there a story online?

Something big exploded at Canberra hospital at about 7:15pm.

Poor fire brigade and police were being kept busy today.

Win News (who didn’t say anything about the Canberra Centre fire) reported that people were evacuated from Canberra Hospital due to the risk of an explosion after chemicals became unstable in a lab. Hazmat, bomb squad, police and urban tankers responded.

Also, while driving home today. Urban tankers and hazmat in Narrabundah due to a gas fire. Only a small one in someone’s front yard. Someone dud a little too deep.

And at around 5pm, 3 police cars with sirens on were speeding up Tharwa drive towards the Gordon-Tharwa-Banks round-about.

Speculation on a serial arsonist running amok in Canberra’s CBD anyone? You heard it here first on The RiotACT.

I was at the Canberra Centre (around 1:30 today) when I noticed smoke coming from the old City Markets building site. Three was also a strong smell that was similar to chlorine around the Mac store. I overheard several people asking “is it an attack?” Thinking it was a spill on the site rather than terrorists, I left.

From what I saw, 3 fire pumpers, breathing apparatus support unit, two ambulances and multiple police units attended.

2CC reported in the 4pm news that:
– Fire crews had to extinguish a car that was alight
– 2 security guards treated for smoke inhalation. (did you know that when the plastics in cars burns, it lets off among other things, hydrogen cyanide!) Hope they’re ok.
– A second smaller fire occurred. Seems to be a light caught, well alight.
– Police are investigating the cause of the fires.

Am I imagining it or is the Canberra Centre bringing James Taylor’s song “Fire and Rain” to life. First the place flooded, now it’s on fire. What next?