***VISION ALERT*** - Lucky escape from house fire prompts neighbourhood safety checks - Macquarie Fields
Published: 14 Jun 2024 04:00pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have door-knocked more than 60 homes at Macquarie Fields, in Sydney’s south-west, in the wake of a devastating house fire in the neighbourhood.
On 28 May, 10 people made a narrow and very lucky escape when their two-storey house in Groundsel Avenue went up in flames.
FRNSW had installed working smoke alarms in the home just a few days earlier, allowing the mother and her nine children to safely evacuate upon hearing the alert.
This week, crews from St Andrews and Macquarie Fields Fire Stations have visited homes in the surrounding streets, encouraging residents to ‘Be Fire Safe’ this winter.
The safety visits included smoke alarm testing and where necessary, alarm provision and installation, free of charge.
FRNSW Duty Commander, Dean Emery, said he hopes the home fire safety blitz will safeguard residents in the south-west.
“Home Fire Safety Visits give us an opportunity to check on our communities first-hand, and to ensure they are better protected from fire,” Inspector Emery said.
“We essentially come to your home, conduct a safety check and offer advice on things like smoke alarms, the use of power boards, as well as safe charging of lithium-ion powered devices.
“These are all things that carry fire risk, so we want to empower residents and give them peace of mind.
“The recent house fire is a prime example of just how important it is to have a working smoke alarm.
“We can’t smell smoke when we are sleeping, so a smoke alarm is the only thing that will alert you if there is a fire.”
Already this winter, four people have died in residential house fires in NSW.
There have been 105 such blazes in the fortnight of winter.
Residents can contact their local fire station or go to the FRNSW website to book a home fire safety visit: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits [external link]
Media note: FRNSW footage of the Home Fire Safety Visits is available here: https://vimeo.com/958196199/ff2b2ed21b?share=copy [external link]
Updated: 14 Jun 2024 04:04pm
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
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
8 Brooks Street, Macquarie Fields NSW 2564
41 Carlisle Street, Ingleburn NSW 2565
9 Swettenham Road, St Andrews NSW 2566