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4. Elderly man identified as victim of third fatal house fire in NSW this winter - Johns River

Elderly man identified as victim of third fatal house fire in NSW this winter - Johns River

Published: 20 Jun 2023 09:48am

A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) canine unit today is at the scene of a fatal house fire at Johns River, on the state's mid-coast.

A man, aged in his 70s, was killed in the blaze which engulfed the property on Riddles Brush Road just after 10:30pm last night.

Eight FRNSW firefighters assisted four NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) crews in the almost five hour-long battle to contain and extinguish the flames.

The fire was so intense the entire roof collapsed, limiting firefighters' ability to access parts of the site.

Firefighters later located the body of the man at the scene.

It is the third residential fire-related fatality in NSW this winter, following the deaths of two women in separate blazes at Orange, in the state's Central West, and Ryde, in Sydney's north-west, earlier this month.

The causes of both incidents are still undetermined.

Experts from the FRNSW's Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU), using an ignitable liquid detection dog, today are scouring the remnants of the Johns River home to establish how the fire started.

Information they uncover will be shared with NSW Police and the Coroner.

FRNSW and the NSW RFS are urging everyone to prioritise safety measures which can keep them and their loved ones safe from the increased risks of fire this winter.

Households are encouraged to follow these tips:

• Keep looking when cooking
• Keep all flammable items at least 1 metre from the heater/fireplace
• Don’t use outdoor cooking equipment such as BBQ’s and gas/charcoal cookers inside
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer before use
• Keep candles away from curtains and don’t leave them unattended
• Don’t overload power boards or power points
• Ensure your flue and chimney is regularly cleaned
• Don’t smoke or use wheat bags in bed
• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, cover and roll
• Once you’ve evacuated during a fire, don’t re-enter the property

Also be cautious charging various electronic devices around the home:

• Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools in the garage or shed, away from living areas and exit doors.
• Never use or charge batteries or equipment showing signs of damage such as swelling, leaking, discolouration, or odours.
• Only use chargers that comply with relevant standards and have been supplied with, or deemed compatible with, your battery or device
• Never leave devices powered by Lithium-ion like mobile phones, cordless vacuum cleaners and power tool batteries on charge for extended periods (e.g. overnight) and unattended. Switch off once fully charged.
• Don’t charge phones on your pillow or in bed. Only charge your devices on hard surfaces
• Buy products from reputable brands and suppliers. Avoid using second hand batteries with an unknown history.

Please assist friends, neighbours and loved ones to ensure their smoke alarms are working and ensure they know how to escape a house fire.

If your smoke alarm is a faded yellow colour, its 10-year life span is up and it needs replacing and always ensure the alarm’s batteries are working.

The public can book a home safety visit from a local FRNSW fire station through our website: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9316 [external link]

Firefighters can inspect your home for fire risks and install a free smoke alarm where necessary.

Updated: 20 Jun 2023 09:53am

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