The NSW Police have confirmed that no bodies were found in the debris of the multi-storey building site that was destroyed by fire last month in Sydney’s inner city. The fire broke out on May 25 at the former home of the RC Henderson women’s hat factory in Surry Hills. The historic warehouse had fallen into despair and was often used by rough sleepers. Police believed more than a dozen people had slept there the night before the incident. The search for human remains was initiated after two people were unaccounted for in the aftermath of the fire, with cadaver-detection dogs and forensic imaging equipment deployed at the site. But on Saturday, the operation centre established to co-ordinate the clean-up, demolition and investigation was stood down, as police confirmed that no bodies had been found.
The operation centre was set up to organise the clean-up, demolition and investigation of the site. The new Strike Force Strontium was also established to assist with the investigation. However, on Saturday, both were stood down as police confirmed that no bodies had been found. “Crime-scene examinations concluded without finding human remains at the site of last month’s large building fire,” a police statement said. “Strike Force Strontium detectives, specialist officers from the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command, and a cadaver-detection dog conducted extensive investigations and examinations.”
After the remaining inquiries were completed, the site was returned to the responsibility of the owners. The investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, but police have not commented on whether the boys who handed themselves in are still involved. Two 13-year-old boys handed themselves into police soon after the fire, and a 12-year-old came forward on May 27.
More than 140 residents from neighbouring units were displaced by the fire. They have been allowed to return home for short periods of time to collect essential items. However, those living at 38 Chalmers Street are finally back for good as of Saturday. Residents from 34 Chalmers Street still have at least another week away from home, while the wait is even longer for those that live on Randle Street.
Due to significant damage caused by the collapse of the neighbouring building basement at 1-5 Randle Street, it is expected to be several weeks before those residents will be able to return. Late last month, demolition work began at the site after extensive risk assessments by engineers and government authorities.
The fire was described as a “once in a decade” blaze and destroyed the historic building once home to the RC Henderson factory. The historic warehouse had fallen into despair and was often used by rough sleepers. The fire broke out just after 4 pm on Thursday, May 25, and police believed more than a dozen people had slept there the night before the incident.
The search for human remains was initiated after two people were unaccounted for in the aftermath of the fire, with cadaver-detection dogs and forensic imaging equipment deployed at the site. But on Saturday, the operation centre established to co-ordinate the clean-up, demolition and investigation was stood down, as police confirmed that no bodies had been found.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, but police have not commented on whether the boys who handed themselves in are still involved. More than 140 residents from neighbouring units were displaced by the fire. They have been allowed to return home for short periods of time to collect essential items. However, those living at 38 Chalmers Street are finally back for good as of Saturday. Residents from 34 Chalmers Street still have at least another week away from home, while the wait is even longer for those that live on Randle Street.
Due to significant damage caused by the collapse of the neighbouring building basement at 1-5 Randle Street, it is expected to be several weeks before those residents will be able to return. Late last month, demolition work began at the site after extensive risk assessments by engineers and government authorities.