02/09/11 - Fatal house fire at Springwood
Published: 2nd September 2011
At 4.32am on Friday 2 September, crews were responded to reports of a house fire in Macquarie Road, Springwood. Springwood firefighters arrived on scene within eleven minutes and reported that a single level weatherboard cottage was fully involved in fire and that there were fears the fire would spread to adjoining houses on both sides.
Firefighters quickly established protection sprays to protect the adjoining properties and attempted to enter the fully involved house. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were able to make entry through the rear of the house and commenced an internal attack on the fire which by now was spreading through the roof area.
One female occupant had been able to safely escape the fire prior to the Brigades arrival. Firefighters were advised that one person was still unaccounted for but due to the intensity of the fire were unable to fully search the house.
It took about an hour to bring the fire under control and extinguish. At around 6.30am the body of a deceased elderly female was located amongst the ruins.
The house and all its contents were almost totally destroyed by the fire. A report into the circumstances of the fire is being prepared for the coroner.