Auburn, NSW: St Thomas church nearly collapses on firefighters after blaze

Police have charged a man with arson after a church fire in Auburn in Sydney on Thursday, during which emergency crews put their lives on the line.

Firefighters were forced to withdraw to safety while searching the church which was engulfed in flames, with the building nearly collapsing while they were inside.

Crews rushed to the St Thomas Anglican Church on Provincial St in Auburn, finding it ablaze just before 3pm on Thursday.

While firefighters fought to contain the blaze, police spoke to a 27-year-old man near the scene, later placing him under arrest and taking him to Burwood Police Station.

Approximately 50 firefighters and 16 trucks fought to contain the flames which had engulfed the church.

Not knowing whether there were people inside the burning building, fire crews donned breathing apparatuses entered the building to search for occupants.

However, intense heat and flames forced fire crews to withdraw to safety.

“A short time later, the church collapsed,” a FRNSW spokesperson said.

The 27-year-old was initially charged with possessing a prohibited drug and breaching bail before he was taken to hospital for treatment.

Following further police inquiries, he was also charged with damage property by fire when he returned to Auburn Police Station on Friday.

He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Friday.

The extensive fire resulted in the 150-year-old church hall collapsing.

Firefighters were forced to establish a defensive perimeter to prevent neighbouring properties from catching alight.

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