When the Narellan fire and rescue crew arrived at a car wrecking yard in Smeaton Grange at midnight last night, they were confronted by more than a huge blaze.
There were also 20 cars alight while gas cylinders and magnesium explosions were rapidly escalating the situation.
The nearest water supply was more than 200 metres away from the location of the fire.
Within minutes crews from another eight NSW Fire and Rescue units, some from as far as Chester Hill, Revesby and Horningsea Park, arrived on the scene to lend a hand.
The firefighters worked into the early hours of the morning before they were able to extinguish the blaze.
By then the blaze had destroyed about 50 vehicles that were being held for scrap metal.
Road diversions were in place for about two hours while the fire was being controlled.
A crime scene was established by officers attached to Camden Police Area Command.
Investigators will wait until the site is declared safe before examining the scene.
The cause of the fire is still to be determined but police say it is suspicious and are appealing for information from the public. A media conference will be held later this morning at Narellan police station.
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A 19 year old teenager is due to appear in children’s court today charged with a dozen break and enter offences at public schools across the South West Sydney region.
Officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command have been investigating numerous school break-ins between March 2018 and September last year, where iPads had been stolen.
Following inquiries, detectives arrested a 19-year-old man at Fairfield Police Station yesterday and charged him with 12 offences. He was refused bail to appear in court today.
