Man jumps from burning unit complex - Taree
Published: 30 Mar 2023 10:58am
A man's been forced to jump to escape a fire on the top level of a two-storey unit complex at Taree, on the state's mid-north coast.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews responded to numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to a building fire on Ronald Road, just before 1.30am today.
When firefighters arrived, they were confronted with an intense fire in the roof area of the apartment building.
The flames have destroyed six of the 12 units.
It took more than 20 firefighters, working off six trucks, three hours to extinguish the fire.
A man leapt off the second storey at the height of the blaze and suffered an arm injury.
He's been treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and transported to hospital for further treatment.
Operations were also supported by the Rural Fire Service and NSW Police.
Approximately 45 people were evacuated from the site which contained two other unit blocks that were not affected by fire.
The evacuees have been relocated to a local club.
Work is underway to determine if it is safe to allow residents of the unaffected buildings to return.
Additional work will be done to find alternative accommodation for the residents of the destroyed or damaged units.
FRNSW fire investigators and an ignitable liquid detection canine are working with fire crews and NSW Police local investigators to determine where and how the fire started.
Updated: 30 Mar 2023 11:03am
Related safety topics
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
The best way to keep you and your family safe is to prevent fires from occurring and know what to do in case of a fire.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
Stations nearby
75 Pulteney St Cnr Wynter Street, Taree NSW 2430
22 Farquhar Street, Wingham NSW 2429
22 Lake Street, Forster NSW 2428