24/11/10 - 15 in hospital and 100 evacuated from 11 residential fires, 6 caused by cooking accidents, 2 caused by car fires, plus several serious motor vehicle accidents

Published: 24th November 2010

Today, the NSWFB processed 565 reports of incidents across the state. Highlights include:

Eighty people had to be evacuated from a block of units in Flide Street, Caringbah early this morning after a car caught fire in an underground carpark just after 1am. Fire crews were on scene within seven minutes of notification and together with Police, worked quickly to evacuate all three levels of the building. Several people had to be assisted during the evacuation due to the thick smoke generated by the carpark fire. Forty firefighters from eight surrounding stations attended the fire which was contained to the basement area. One car and a garage area were extensively damaged. Several units sustained smoke damage and the building sustained extensive damage to its plumbing which extended into the basement area. Approximately forty residents had to be relocated due to eighteen units being unable to be re-occupied.

Fifteen people required treatment for smoke inhalation and were transported to hospital for further assessments. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Later this morning firefighters were called to another car fire under a block of units at Carramar. Twenty people were evacuated from the three level building, however due to the rapid response of firefighters the incident was quickly contained without injury or serious damage to buildings.

Another nine residential fires kept fire crews busy today. A house was destroyed at Minto and houses at Tighes Hill and Mt Druitt sustained fire damage to rooms.

Today, six residential fires were started by incidents involving cooking at Glenmore Park, Auburn, Bellevue Hill, Jamisontown, Mt Pleasant and Punchbowl.

Today Fire Rescue Officers responded to 42 motor vehicle accidents across NSW with three serious incidents occurring on the South West Motorway and also serious incidents at Strathfield and Unanderra.

Fire Hazmat crews attended a significant chemical spillage at Smithfield. No injuries were advised.