Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) News

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters and administration staff have raised a staggering amount of donations for children suffering serious burns. The volunteer fundraisers today presented a cheque for $215,406 to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) at FRNSW’s official number ‘002’ Station, The Burns Unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The significant total is the culmination of year-long efforts by FRNSW’s ‘Beat the Burn&rsquo...

Three veterans of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) have been recognized in this year’s King’s Birthday honors for their commitment to the fire service and community safety. The Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) was established in 1988 to recognize the distinguished service of firefighters – permanent or volunteer – to their organizations. The medals are awarded on the King’s Birthday each year by the Governor-General, on recommendation of Commonwealth and State mini...

The wet weather did not deter the crowds from attending Fire and Rescue NSW’s Open Day at the Museum of Fire in Penrith. Hit animated preschool property, PAW Patrol, from Nickelodeon and Spin Master Entertainment, entertained the kids and helped to spread the message of how to “be fire safe”. FRNSW Acting Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Steer was also on hand at the event which featured a range of free displays and activities in the museum grounds including PAW Patrol’s...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have detailed their rescue of a pet dog after it fell down an embankment near Wilton, in Sydney’s south-west. When they arrived at Maldon Bridge Road at roughly 5pm last Friday (10 May), firefighters from Picton and Narellan discovered that “Wilma”, an eight-month-old chocolate Labrador who had been missing for most of the day, was trapped on a small ledge, 40 metres down the embankment. One of Wilma’s owners had located her and called...

In the lead up to National Volunteer Week (20-26 May), and to celebrate 30 years of its Community Fire Units (CFU) program, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has unveiled a new uniform for its dedicated members. The new uniform is in line with the current standards of protection for firefighters which came into effect following the 2019/20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires. They will be initially rolled out to CFUs in the Blue Mountains, with the rest of the state to follow. As a nod to the histo...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have played a leading role in a multi-agency bus crash exercise at Lake Macquarie. The simulated bus rollover was staged at the Edgeworth depot of bus company, CDC NSW, to allow firefighters and other first responders to fine tune their skills in emergency vehicle rescues. According to the weekend mock scenario, two buses and a utility collided on a road, causing a rollover. Firefighter training Firefighters from Morisset, Toronto and Lambton, working alongs...

Seven people have been treated for smoke inhalation after a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike exploded in a unit in Sydney overnight. Seven Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) trucks and 28 firefighters responded to an initial automatic fire alarm in a 26-storey unit block in George Street around 11.50pm. A battery was charging in the lounge room of a unit on the sixth floor when it exploded and caught fire. FRNSW Evacuation The occupants managed to escape and the automatic sprinkler system extingu...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has celebrated a decade of its Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy (IFARES) with a cultural ceremony at the Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills, in Sydney’s west. The pathway program, jointly run by TAFE NSW and FRNSW, offers Indigenous participants the opportunity to ready themselves for a career in firefighting. At today’s ceremony, held at the Academy’s dedicated Yarning Circle, past graduates put on an Aboriginal performance...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have been faced with a challenging car fire on the top level of a multi-storey car park at Parramatta in Sydney’s west. The crew from Parramatta Fire Station rushed to Wentworth Street just before 9pm last night amid reports of a vehicle exploding on the ninth floor of the car park. The black Chrysler’s fuel tank had ruptured, the resulting flames driven up to four metres into the air by the blast and strong winds. Extinguishing the flames...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) was busy across many parts of Sydney and the Illawarra yesterday afternoon due to the wild and windy weather. Between midday and midnight, FRNSW received almost 1,000 Triple Zero (000) calls for help from the public. Crews attended a large number of fires, bush and grass fires, and wires down from Cromer on the Northern Beaches to Brownsville in Wollongong. Fire rescue effort Firefighters also spent the night mopping up a large grass fire at Horningsea Park Firef...

A group of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters is just days away from a mammoth 24-hour stair climb of the Furber Steps at Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, to raise money for charity. The group aims to raise $100,000 to aid research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND), as part of the annual ‘Firies Climb for MND’ event. From its origins in Sydney’s CBD in 2015, the ‘Firies Climb for MND’ has evolved, with this year’s fundraisers pushing their bodies and mi...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a fire in a garbage truck at Charlestown in Newcastle. The truck’s driver called Triple Zero (000) just before 8am today when he noticed smoke issuing from the hopper of the vehicle, stopped in a loading bay during an industrial bin run, in Hopetoun Street. Twenty-eight firefighters and seven FRNSW trucks, including HAZMAT units, from Charlestown, Cardiff, Newcastle, Tingira Heights, and Lambton rushed to the scene and attacked the blaz...

A group of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters is set to take on a mammoth 24-hour stair climb of the Furber Steps at Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains to raise money for charity. The group aims to raise $100,000 to aid research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND), as part of the annual ‘Firies Climb for MND’ event. In what will be his fifth year tackling the Furber Steps, Firefighter Gavin Clifton, of Leura Fire Station will climb the stairs for 24-hours straight, starting at 12pm...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews on the state's north coast have carried out a prolonged operation to extinguish a fierce fire which has engulfed a semi-trailer and its load of Lithium-ion batteries. FRNSW received numerous Triple-Zero (000) calls just before 2.30 this morning about the rig alight in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, south of Kempsey. Eight fire trucks and 32 firefighters from Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Wauchope, rushed to the scene, assisted by the...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have been kept busy overnight with a number of large fires across the State. Just before 6.30 pm yesterday, FRNSW received numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to a multi-storey unit complex in Regent Street, Kogarah. Eight trucks and 32 firefighters responded as a precaution however the fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system. One person was assessed by NSW Ambulance at the scene. Multiple fires At 10.00 pm, FRNSW assisted NSW RFS at a fire in Herons Creek...

Owners of a Camden shop are cleaning up after a fire broke out in a storeroom last night. Fire and Rescue (FRNSW) received numerous Triple Zero (000) calls just before 7.00 pm to a row of shops in John Street following reports of large volumes of smoke issuing from the roof of one of the buildings. Tackling the fire spread Crews immediately called for additional resources, including an aerial truck, to ensure the blaze wouldn't spread to adjoining buildings. Firefighters quickly located the...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished an e-bike battery fire before it could take hold and harm residents or property overnight at Guildford in Sydney’s west. The owner, who had only obtained the second-hand e-bike the day before, placed the battery into the bike shortly after 2.00 am this morning, noticing a small spark soon after. As a precaution, the owner removed the battery from the e-bike and threw it into an outside courtyard. Battery catches fire The battery then...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has contained a large fire at an auto repair shop in Auburn in Sydney’s south-west. More than 100 firefighters and 20 fire trucks remain on scene at the incident in an industrial area in Stubbs Street as the fire continues to smoulder. It took crews approximately two hours to contain the intense fire, which started around 6.00 pm. Roof collapsed The roof of the building where the fire started has collapsed At the height of the blaze, three aerial ladder pla...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters are competing in a special cricket series in Sydney later this month, aimed at raising funds and awareness for the Black Dog Institute’s fight against mental illness. The firefighters are taking part in the Defence and Emergency Services cricket gala day on Wednesday (25 September) at Mona Park in Auburn. Funds for research Competitive and colourful cricket with old rivalries renewed and new friendships formed Organised by the NSW Police cricket...

Fire and Rescue NSW is deploying three water rescue strike teams and specialised equipment to support emergency efforts in the state’s north today as Cyclone Alfred approaches. The teams, made up of 14 highly-trained firefighters and a team leader, will be working in Lismore, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour where they will support the NSW State Emergency Service-led response to any potential flood emergency. Regional Rescue Teams Metropolitan-based firefighters will be supported by speciall...

Fire and Rescue NSW crews responded to a fire involving a car carrier on the Hume Highway at Denham Court, in Sydney's south west. The prime mover, carrying several new hybrid vehicles, was successfully detached from the trailer; however, five of the vehicles were destroyed by fire. Lithium Battery Risk The hybrid vehicles containing lithium-ion batteries, added to the complexity to the operation. Lithium-ion batteries can ignite with significant force when exposed to fire. Crews removed the...

Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters have worked throughout the night to free a driver from a wreckage following a crash between two B-double trucks in Oolong, east of Yass in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Three fire trucks, including a technical rescue truck and hazardous material truck, and 12 firefighters arrived on scene on the Hume Highway after reports of the collision between the two vehicles. Complex Rescue Operation A B-double truck veered off the road and rolled over before a second B-do...

Fire and Rescue NSW has demonstrated its extensive firefighting capabilities, responding to multiple significant fires across Sydney overnight, the largest of which was a major factory blaze in Revesby. More than 100 firefighters and 25 fire trucks, including multiple aerial ladder platform trucks, worked for approximately four hours to contain a fierce warehouse fire that broke out at around 11.00pm on Milperra Road. Massive Blaze Contained Crews also extinguished a significant grass and bus...

A man has suffered burns to his arm and leg after a fire involving an e-bike at a property in North St Marys, in Sydney's west. Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called just after 4.00am this morning following a Triple Zero call reporting a fire and explosions at a property in Glossop Street. Firefighter Response On arrival, firefighters found an e-bike alight, with a man nearby suffering burn. Crews quickly extinguished the fire before removing the bike's lithium-ion battery and submerging it i...

Fire and Rescue NSW crews are striking the right chord with festivalgoers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, ensuring fire safety takes centre stage at the iconic event, which attracts around 70,000 visitors each year. As part of a larger fire safety campaign running throughout the festival, FRNSW is conducting a blitz on smoke alarms in caravans, motorhomes and annexes. Firefighters are checking and replacing alarms to ensure all campers have working smoke alarms. Encouragingly, fewer sm...

Three Fire and Rescue NSW officers have been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in Australia Day Honours. The recipients of the top emergency service recognition include Superintendent Gregory Houston, Station Officer Samuel Parkhouse and Grafton Captain Garry Reardon. Exceptional Bravery The Australian Fire Service Medal is one of the highest honours an Australian firefighter can receive. Established in 1988, the Australian Fire Service Medal is one of the highest honours an Australi...

Fire and Rescue NSW crews battled a large house fire last night after a blaze broke out in a caravan and spread to a two-level home in Bonnells Bay, on the western shores of Lake Macquarie. Just after night, more than 30 firefighters and 10 fire trucks responded to multiple Triple Zero calls to heavy smoke and fire coming from the property on Wood Street. Blaze Breakout On arrival, crews found the caravan fully involved in fire, with flames spreading inside the house. Initial reports indicate...

Fire and Rescue NSW’s Corrimal Fire Station is celebrating a century of serving and protecting the community north of Wollongong. FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell joined dignitaries including the Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes and the NSW Minister for Health and Member for Keira Ryan Park at the station on Saturday. Heritage Celebration Local Aboriginal Elder Uncle Peter Button conducted a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. A book detailing the station’s 100-y...

Fire and Rescue NSW is inviting people who are passionate about making a difference to their communities to consider becoming a full-time firefighter at Australia’s busiest urban fire and rescue agency. The permanent firefighter recruitment drive opens next month, and you can find out more at information sessions in Sydney. The events will also be livestreamed so potential applicants can tune-in from across New South Wales. Behind the Flames Staff will guide attendees through the recrui...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has deployed more than 100 firefighters and 20 fire trucks to battle a large structure fire at a commercial recycling plant at St Marys, in Sydney's west. FRNSW received multiple Triple Zero calls reporting a significant blaze with gas cylinders exploding and thick black smoke visible from the site in Christie Street. Firestorm Unfolds Upon arrival, firefighters encountered intense fire activity, with flames reaching 60 metres in height. Ongoing explosions and stor...