Tweed Head blaze at charity warehouse leaves dozens of people living with disabilities without work

A woman has had a lucky escape after a fire tore through a charity’s warehouse in northern NSW, leaving dozens of vulnerable people without work.

Fire and emergency teams were called to help battle the out-of-control blaze on Parkside Drive in Tweed Head South about 7.30pm on Tuesday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: A Woman has made a lucky escape after a Charity building goes up in flames.

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The fire broke out at a disability employment organisation owned by the charity Challenge Tweed.

“I was working late, I heard some noises,” general manager Monica Leitao told 7NEWS at the scene.

“I thought there was an intruder. I walked out of the office and saw the smoke billowing out.

“When I saw the smoke, I thought ‘get out’ and ‘thank god it’s night and it was only me’.”

Leitao said the charity organisation employed people living with a permanent disability at their food processing and packaging facility.

The facility employs about 40 workers with disabilities and has operated since 1969.

Station officer Dave Mooney from Fire and Rescue NSW told 7NEWS It took about 45 firefighters from both NSW and Queensland three hours to control the blaze, however the building could not be saved.

“This place is completely destroyed,” Mooney said.

“The facility was difficult to access, and soon after (the fire) became fully involved and crews withdrew.”

Mooney congratulated the efforts of firefighters to contain the spread and protect surrounding properties.

Leitao explained the emotional and financial toll the fire will have on their staff and business.

“All our stock is gone, It’s just devastating,” she said.

“One employee is 70 years old, she’s worked here for 23 years and catches two buses to get here.”

Leitao sent out an emotional plea to the Tweed community to assist them in financially supporting employees.

“I hope the people of Tweed get behind us, to help us rebuild what we have — which is special,” she said.

“We’re hoping people could be generous enough and make some donations, and get behind us, but more importantly, it’s the really beautiful people who work for us, this is their opportunity to come to work to be a team, to work as a team.”