Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) News

A fire in a kitchen restaurant has caused significant damage to a food court in Circular Quay in Sydney overnight. Sixteen fire trucks and more than 60 firefighters responded to the incident following numerous Triple Zero (000) calls about the blaze in Gateway Sydney just after 9.00 pm. Significant fire activity On arrival, crews observed significant fire activity spreading through the flue (exhaust system) in a kitchen of one of the eateries, with large volumes of black smoke issuing from th...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have begun training on one of its latest replacement vehicles, a $950,000 state-of-the-art Pumper appliance being stationed at Mascot, in Sydney’s inner south. The Scania P320 Class 3 is fitted with in-cabin Breathing Apparatus-equipped seating for five firefighters. It features a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), which allows the truck to significantly reduce water usage, allowing a more efficient dispersal of foam and water and reducing run-off when ex...

Three people have been transported to hospital following a chemical reaction outside the University of Sydney Sports Aquatic Centre in Darlington, New South Wales, Australia. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) arrived on scene in Codrington Street around 10.00 am after receiving reports of a person suffering from chemical burns. Acid-based chemicals One employee and two bystanders were impacted by the acid-based chemicals, which were being moved for disposal. Firefighters immediately set up an exclu...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have helped save a skydiver, who had landed on a tree at Moruya, on the state's south coast. FRNSW personnel joined NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, State Emergency Service and NSW Rural Fire Service crews to reach the man. NSW Rural Fire Service crews The skydiver found himself hanging upside down, stuck in the tree, around 40-meters off the ground near the Moruya Airport. The man manoeuvred himself into a fork of the tree where he then turned himself upright. An...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has safely contained the chemicals responsible for a reaction and minor elevated radiation levels outside the University of Sydney Sports Aquatic Centre in Darlington. These contained chemicals are being handed back to the university for disposal as per its licensing agreement. Baseline background levels In conjunction with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), further testing has confirmed that radiation levels have returned to their baseline background...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is reminding the public about the importance of having a working smoke alarm, with the devices preventing tragedy in a recent spate of house fires. In August, a Mudgee resident was alerted to a fire in their living room; the result of a piece of fireplace timber that hadn’t fully extinguished from the night before. FRNSW firefighters In September, FRNSW firefighters were called to a home on Constantia Road, where an oven fire had taken place. Last week,...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have battled to contain a workshop fire early this morning at Kurri Kurri, in the Hunter Region. More than 60 firefighters and 15 fire trucks responded to multiple Triple Zero (000) calls to flames and smoke issuing from the plastic repurposing facility. FRNSW crews The blaze broke out just after 11 pm on Thursday, and continued through the night taking firefighters 4 hours to get the ‘4th alarm’ fire under control. Upon arrival, FRNSW crews were...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a house fire early this morning at Fairfield East in Sydney’s west, leaving the residence severely damaged. The blaze broke out at 3.40 am in the laundry, where it penetrated into the roof cavity and quickly spread through the rest of the roof, causing it to collapse.   FRNSW crews FRNSW crews observed fire through the roof of the single-level building, which extended from the rear More than 22 firefighters and six fire truck...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews recently played a pioneering role in a multi-agency car crash exercise at Doyalson. The simulated crash was staged to allow firefighters and NSW Ambulance paramedics to work together to fine tune their skills in emergency vehicle rescues. The mock scenario involved the collision of two cars, causing a rollover, with multiple patients requiring medical attention. Vehicle stabilization and rescue techniques Firefighters from Doyalson practiced vehicle stabiliza...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters at Kariong Fire Station are now certified to fly the station’s Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones, acting as ‘eyes in the sky’ for the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie communities. The qualifications have followed a five-day Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) course and multiple sessions with FRNSW’s Aviation Team, endorsing the firefighters to fly their drones at night. Safety of emergency workers The aerial...

Seven Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters from Berry Fire Station are now certified to fly the station’s Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones, becoming the first emergency service in the Shoalhaven to achieve accreditation. The qualifications have followed a five-day Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) course and multiple sessions with FRNSW’s Aviation Team, endorsing the firefighters to fly their drones at night. Safety of emergency workers The aerial platfor...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have battled an intense house fire overnight at South Kempsey, on the state’s Mid-North Coast. Four FRNSW trucks responded to the incident following numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to a home well alight on West Street at 12:30 am. Intense encroaching flames Firefighters located a dog tied up at the back of the home and quickly rescued it On arrival, crews found the home fully engulfed in fire and immediately set about fighting the blaze. Resid...

A home has suffered significant damage following a fire in Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast today. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received numerous Triple Zero (000) calls around 10.00 am reporting smoke issuing from the rear of a two-storey house in Burrawang Street. Crews observed large volumes of smoke en-route to the incident and upon arrival, found the home well alight. Residential fire safety More than 20 firefighters quickly got to work to contain the blaze and protect neighbouring pro...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is encouraging residents to follow barbecue safety advice to avoid serious ‘mis-steaks’ during the October long weekend celebrations. FRNSW Acting Commissioner, Paul McGuiggan, said simple precautions and a little bit of planning helps to avoid accidents, prevent fires and keep loved ones safe. Reduce the risk of injury or damage “Have your barbecue set up in an area that has been cleared of vegetation, on a firm, level base sheltered from the win...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a hotel fire early this morning at Burwood in Sydney’s inner west, leaving one accommodation room totally destroyed. The blaze broke out at 5.45 am on the second floor within the hotel on the corner of Paramatta Road and Burwood Road. FRNSW crews More than 35 firefighters and eight fire trucks responded to multiple Triple Zero (000) calls to flames and smoke issuing from the property. Upon arrival, FRNSW crews observed heavy smoke iss...

An elderly man has been transported to the hospital suffering serious burns following a house fire in Frenchs Forest in northern Sydney this morning. The man self-evacuated from the home in BlueGum Crescent around 4.00 am where a fire had started and taken hold. He knocked on a neighbour's door who called Triple Zero (000) and provided initial care until NSW Ambulance arrived. Fire and Rescue NSW crews The man suffered serious burns to his face, hands and airway. Upon arrival, Fire and R...

Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) Coraki Fire Station has commemorated a special milestone,100 years of operation, dealing with fires, floods, and everything in between. Several dignitaries, including Robert Mustow (Mayor Richmond Valley), Angelo Jones (Richmond Valley Local Emergency Management Officer), Superintendent Daniel Ainsworth (RFS), Chaplain Graeme Davis (NSW Ambulance) and members of FRNSW's leadership team, have attended a special function at the station to celebrate the achievem...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews suspected Lithium-Ion batteries, thrown out in household rubbish, were the cause of a garbage truck fire on the Central Coast. The truck caught alight just before 2 pm at Hamlyn Terrace, forcing the driver to dump his burning load onto Sparks Road. FRNSW crew from Hamlyn Terrace The FRNSW crew from Hamlyn Terrace was quickly on the scene as aerosol cans and other refuse exploded. The firefighters attacked the blaze with two lines of hose, as flames sprea...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have saved a paraglider who has crashed into a tree at Laurieton on the state's mid-north coast. The man's flight came to grief around 12.45 pm yesterday when his chute careered into a canopy of trees in thick scrub, around 100 meters from Lord Street. FRNSW crews FRNSW crews from Laurieton, assisted by Police and Ambulance paramedics, were alerted and used a fire trail to access the bushland. They located the uninjured man, suspended from a branch of a large...

A new Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) truck, valued at almost half a million dollars, has been assigned to protect the community of Singleton, in the state’s Hunter Valley. The Compressed Air Foam System (CAFs) Class 2 Pumper allows firefighters to tackle structural, chemical, petrol, and grass fires using up to five times less water than normal. Air to supply fire hoses The highly efficient system combines foam concentrate with compressed air to supply fire hoses with superior ‘knock...

Fire protection in the state’s New England region has been boosted with the arrival of a new, state-of-the-art Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) engine at Uralla. The $470,000 Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) Iveco Class 2 pumper enables firefighters to tackle structural, chemical, petrol and grass fires, using up to five times less water than normal. Air to supply fire hoses The highly efficient system combines foam concentrate with compressed air to supply fire The highly efficient system...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators now have confirmed a fire at Auburn, in Sydney's inner west, was sparked by a faulty Lithium-ion battery. Residents of a home on Station Road had an incredibly lucky escape when the e-bike battery caught fire just after 7 pm last night. The occupants were first alerted to the fire by the smell of smoke before calling Triple Zero (000). FRNSW firefighters Firefighters ventilated the house and the battery was placed in a container of water to preve...

Although winter has officially come to an end, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging the community to remain vigilant about home fire safety. This winter, FRNSW recorded 12 preventable residential fire deaths across NSW, an increase of four on last year’s fatality rate. There were 1,001 residential fires and 105 people injured. Cause of residential fires In 422 (42%) cases, fires broke out in kitchens or cooking areas; 95 (9%) in the bedroom In 422 (42%) cases, fires broke out in kitch...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is currently battling a large fire at a commercial complex on Kaleski Street in Moorebank. More than 100 firefighters and 26 trucks are either on scene or on route. On arrival, crews were confronted with large volumes of smoke coming from the property and immediately set about tackling the blaze with multiple lines of hose. Two aerial platforms Two aerial platforms are also being used to douse the flames from above. Residents in surrounding buildings have been evac...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a burning vehicle, which was driven into a residential complex overnight at Merrylands in Sydney’s west. The Toyota SUV, thought to have been stolen, was driven into the courtyard of the complex on the corner of Pitt and Gladstone Streets around 2.45 this morning. It crashed into the corner of a tower block, forcing the evacuation of at least 250 occupants from three residential buildings. Forensic investigation by NSW Police Fire crew...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have participated in a multi-agency exercise, aimed at perfecting their rescue skills in challenging conditions at Berridale in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters from Cooma, Jindabyne and Perisher Valley joined local first responders from the Rural Fire Service and NSW Ambulance in the State Emergency Service-led training simulation. Extricating RFS volunteers The weekend scenario featured a road crash involving three buses and a car, with all agencies tasked...

In an Australian first for public agency fire investigation, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has begun using a ground-breaking, three-dimensional scanner to record fire scenes and capture evidence. The LEICA 3D Laser Scanner has a measuring rate of up to two-million points per second and advanced High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging to accurately record the dimension of a fire scene in both panoramic image and dot cloud forms. Use of earlier generation scanners FRNSW has purchased the scanner and its...

A fire has caused extensive damage to a home in Putney, in Sydney’s inner west. Just before 10:30 am, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to a house that was well alight in Ida Street. On arrival, firefighters found the house fully involved in fire and began attacking it from all sides. Studies into the cause of the fire Nine trucks and 36 firefighters responded to the emergency, utilizing an aerial ladder platform to douse the fire from above, suc...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have credited a working smoke alarm and the actions of a quick-thinking resident in preventing a weekend kitchen fire consuming a house in Mudgee, in the state’s Central West. Firefighters responded to the blaze on Constantia Road, shortly after 2 pm yesterday afternoon. On arrival, they found a resident had already extinguished the oven fire. Recent Home Fire Safety Visit The sound of the smoke alarm first alerted the resident to the fire The s...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have deployed one of their biggest fire appliances to evacuate a mock casualty off a ship during a major emergency exercise today in the Port of Newcastle. FRNSW now has taken part in Exercise 'SPILLEX 24', a realistic Port Authority of NSW-led simulation at the docks of Koorangang Island. Fire and dealing Firefighters were faced with a scenario in whereby a fire had broken out in the capacity Firefighters were faced with a scenario whereby a fire had broken...