Firefighters and police are at the scene of a large factory fire in Newcastle, with the property backing onto a fuel storage facility.

Shortly before 3.20pm on Tuesday 1 March, thirty fire trucks were sent to the four-storey building on Annie St at Wickham in Newcastle’s inner suburbs and workers were evacuated from the building as the flames took hold.

Crews are also monitoring and protecting the adjoining fuel terminal.

An exclusion zone has been set up around the former wool store while electrical and gas utilities are isolated and firefighters try to prevent the blaze from spreading.

Police were also on the scene evacuating nearby residents on Annie St, Milford St, The Avenue and Robert St, with an evacuation centre established at the nearby Goodlife church.

“It is unlikely these evacuated residents and businesses will be able to return this evening,” Newcastle police said on Facebook.

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