Chemical Exposure Incident at Mayfield West

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Thirteen people have been transported to hospital following a chemical release at Mayfield West this morning.

Just before 8am, NSW Ambulance and Fire and Rescue crews were called to the Modulate Containers site on Woodstock Street to reports of workers being exposed to a chemical believed to be Napthalene.

Fire crews have not confirmed the chemical and are listing it as an unknown chemical gas or fume.

The source of the release is yet to be identified but it's not believed to have originated on the Modulate Containers site.

Paramedics say a man in his 50s was taken to the Mater Hospital suffering nausea and a burning sensation in his throat, 12 other patients have since been taken to the Mater and John Hunter Hospitals suffering various levels of nausea and headaches.

All patients are in a stable condition.

A Fire and Rescue HAZMAT team was called to the scene from the Central Coast and crews remain on site to monitor the chemical's spread.

Fire Engulfs Recycling Centre At Mayfield West

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has engulfed a recycling centre at Mayfield West overnight.

Emergency services were called to the Benedict Recycling Centre in McIntosh Drive just after 8.30pm on Thursday to find the factory warehouse well alight.

Dozens of firefighters from around the region and the Central Coast have battled the blaze through the night using a blanket of foam to try to knock down the flames.

Nearby residents reported smelling thick acrid smoke in the area and crews are still at the scene.

A heavy fuel load is making it difficult to fully extinguish the blaze, with earthmoving equipment to be brought in at first light to break apart the large piles of recyclable material.

It's the second fire at the facility in three months, with crews taking more than 8 hours to extinguish a blaze which broke out on September 22.

Police have established a crime scene as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Benedict Recycling Centre Fire Picture: theherald.com.au

Benedict Recycling Centre Fire Picture: theherald.com.au

5 Car Pile-Up Closes Tourle Street Mayfield West

BY IAN CROUCH

Tourle Street, Mayfield West has been re-opened to traffic after a 5 car pile up.

Police say four cars were stopped at roadworks at about 10.45pm on Thursday night when a truck crashed heavily into the last car stopped in the line-up.

This created a concertina affect, with the cars in front colliding nose-to-tail.

The rear car was badly damaged, however the driver escaped with only minor injuries and was taken to hospital for observation.

It's expected the truck driver will be charged over the incident.

Tourle Street was closed for almost three hours as a result of the crash.