A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) canine unit 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 10:30 pm 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.
Residential fire
The fire was so intense that the entire roof collapsed, limiting firefighters' ability to access parts of the site
The fire was so intense that 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, are scouring the remnants of the Johns River home to establish how the fire started.
Safety measures
Information they uncover will be shared with NSW Police and the Coroner. FRNSW and the NSW RFS are urging everyone to prioritize safety measures that 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 meter from the heater/fireplace
- Don’t use outdoor cooking equipment such as BBQs and gas/charcoal cookers inside
- Clean the lint filter in the dryer before use
- Keep candles away from curtains and don’t leave them unattended
- Don’t overload power boards or power points
- Ensure the flue and chimney are regularly cleaned
- Don’t smoke or use wheat bags in bed
- If the clothes catch fire, stop, drop, cover, and roll
- Once evacuated during a fire, don’t re-enter the property
Also, be cautious when charging various electronic devices around the home:
- Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, and 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, discoloration, or odors.
- Only use chargers that comply with relevant standards and have been supplied with, or deemed compatible with, the 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 the pillow or in bed. Only charge the devices on hard surfaces
- Buy products from reputable brands and suppliers. Avoid using second-hand batteries with an unknown history.
- Please assist friends, neighbors, and loved ones to ensure their smoke alarms are working and ensure they know how to escape a house fire.
If the smoke alarm is a faded yellow color, its 10-year life span is up and it needs replacing, and always ensure the alarm’s batteries are working.