MORE than 120 people were forced to flee 10m-high flames when a gas main at Lane Cove Plaza caught fire during the lunchtime rush yesterday.

Shoppers reported hearing an “almighty whoosh” about 1.20pm as the main caught fire. It left a 21-year-old construction worker with burns to the lower half of his body. He was in a stable condition yesterday, a NSW Health spokesman said.

Eleanor Katelaris, 18, was working as a waitress at the Aristocrat Coffee Lounge next to the fire.

“There was this whoosh sound and then flames,” she said. “Everyone who was eating outside just got up and ran away.”

A visibly shaken Ms Katelaris said she had to run back to retrieve a woman’s empty pram.

“It was not your normal day at work, that is for sure,” she said.

“We didn’t get time to clear the plates.”

Aristocrat Coffee Lounge owner Paul, who did not want to give his last name, said there was about 60 diners sitting in his cafe right next to where the fireball was. “There was a concrete cutter being used on the site. It must have cut open the pipe and then we get this,” he said.

NSW Fire and Rescue superintendent Ian Krimmer said the 30 fire fighters on the scene were forced to let the fire burn out for safety reasons.

“We do not put gas fires out. If you put it out you can endanger other buildings,” he said.

Nearby schools including Lane Cove Public School were temporarily locked down. Longueville Rd and Central Ave were blocked for about an hour.

media_camera Firefighter work to contain the gas explosion at Lane Cove Plaza. Picture: Dave Swift.

media_camera Evacuation ... The scene just moments after the explosion and fire. CREDIT: TRISTAN GRIFFITHS

media_camera Up in flames ... Shoppers watch the blaze from a safe distance. Twitter photo: Malcolm Alder

media_camera Clear out ... Shoppers are told to evacuate the area. CREDIT: TRISTAN GRIFFITHS

Eleanor Katelaris, 18, was working at the Aristocrat Cafe right next to where the flames were.

“There was this ‘

whoosh sound’ and then flames were going about 10m into the air,” she said.

“After the police told us to get up and then everyone who was eating outside just got up and ran away.”

Ms Katelaris, who was visibly shaken, said she had to run back and get a woman’s empty pram.

“It was not your normal day at work, that is for sure,” she said.

Eye on Lane Cove optometrist Jason Moufarrege as soon as he heard that whooshing sound he knew something was wrong. He then evacuated his staff a short time later because emergency services “did not come knocking at my door.”

Three schools including Lane Cove Public School were temporarily locked down until students were allowed to leave at 3pm.

One witness told Radio 2GB:”The fire was so intense. It was like a train going through a tunnel, just a huge fireball.”

Emergency services were first called to the scene at 1.15pm with the fire being allowed to burn out.

Longueville Road is closed in both directions between Central Avenue and Epping Road, with extensive traffic delays expted. Local diversions are in place.

Buses have also been diverted on to backstreets with six stops being missed.

Originally published as Gas fire causes real lunchtime rush