A working smoke alarm has saved the life of a woman during a unit fire this morning at Plumpton in Sydney's west. The alarm began sounding in the Woodvale Close home just before 5 am. The woman, aged in her 50s, woke to find a chair in her lounge room alight. She wisely closed the door to the room to isolate the flames and then rang Triple-Zero (000).
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) appliances from Mount Druitt, Blacktown and Huntingwood Fire Stations, including an aerial platform, rushed to the single-level unit.
Fifteen firefighters
Fifteen firefighters extinguished the flames and treated the woman for smoke inhalation until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived to transport her to the hospital for further assessment. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
FRNSW urges the public to ensure all homes are fitted with at least one working smoke alarm. Residents are also encouraged to have a fire escape plan and to book a home safety visit by their local firefighters through the FRNSW website.