Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) News

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have been involved in a major emergency operation to recover a semi-trailer that ran off the Pacific Highway and crashed down an embankment, near Maclean, in the state's northern rivers district. The crash occurred just before 2 pm, but it took emergency crews almost seven hours to extricate the B-double from bushland. Truck's ruptured fuel tanks The rig had crossed from the southbound to the northbound lanes of the highway The rig had crossed from the south...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has applauded a concept by the Sydney Roosters NRL club to dedicate a match every season to the state’s first responders. Premier, Chris Minns, and Police Minister, Yasmin Catley, now joined Roosters officials and representatives from FRNSW, the NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, the Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, Surf Life Saving Australia, the Volunteer Rescue Association and Marine Rescue to support the launch of the inaugural 'Emergency Serv...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is once again urging residents to ensure safe charging practices of lithium-ion battery-powered devices, following an e-bike fire near Newcastle yesterday. The owner was charging the device on the rear verandah of a property in Milford Street, Toronto just after 1.00 pm, when he heard a series of explosions. He ran outside and found the e-bike, which he had purchased second-hand only two weeks ago, well alight. Fire risk in NSW Fortunately, there were no reported i...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell, has now joined Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib, and Member for Liverpool, Charishma Kaliyanda, to formally unveil the new $5.2 million fire station in Busby, in Sydney’s south-west. Work began on the station in September last year after the old, 60-year-old single-bay station, was demolished. FRNSW’s Clean Firefighter policy New station has two big engine bays and a drive-through option that makes entering the stati...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters wearing firefighting gear have powered through this year’s City2Surf, raising $80,208 for children suffering serious burns injuries. FRNSW Commissioner - Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM, along with a crew of 19 fellow firefighters, faced off with Heartbreak Hill wearing helmets and breathing apparatus, to raise vital funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation (SCHF). Latest in a string of fundraising efforts Beat the Burn has raised over $1.3...

A intense blaze has destroyed a unit and damaged three others in Punchbowl overnight. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received numerous Triple Zero (000) calls just before 11.00 pm, following reports of a fire on Victoria Road. Seven fire trucks, including two ladder platforms, and 28 firefighters arrived on scene to find a top floor unit of a two level unit block well alight. Crews searched the property and quickly got to work attacking the fire. Damage to the structural timbers Crews withd...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) have now joined forces in a commitment to work together to safeguard communities from fire risk and enhance safety across the state. At the first ‘Insurance Industry Forum’ held at the City of Sydney Fire Station, representatives from FRNSW and the ICA came together to discuss key findings from recent research, share best practices and data, and develop actionable strategies to protect communities from fire. N...

A man has narrowly escaped an apartment fire, caused by a faulty lithium-ion battery, at Dee Why on Sydney’s northern beaches. The resident was charging a battery pack for a remote-controlled plane in his unit just after 8 pm on Sunday (4 August) when it burst into flames.  Quick-thinking by the occupant limited the spread of the fire. He managed to place the burning charger and battery into a fire-proof bag, which he placed on his balcony as he called Triple Zero (000) for help...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have rescued an elderly man from a burning home in Kingswood, in Sydney’s west. Six FRNSW fire trucks responded shortly before 7.00 am after multiple reports of a house fire on Orth Street. Crews arrived to find the single-level home well alight and immediately set about tackling the blaze. Firefighters entered the property to conduct a rapid search for occupants. Firefighters gained control of the fire They located a man, believed to be in...

Five people have been evacuated from a unit block in Pendle Hill after a burst water main caused flooding in the area. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received a Triple Zero (000) call around midday reporting the incident in Stapleton Street. NSW Police Upon arrival, firefighters found large volumes of water coming from beneath the road, causing the basement area of a nearby unit block to flood. NSW Police safely evacuated the impacted residents. FRNSW responded with additional resources to the...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has commissioned a versatile new fire engine to protect communities in Sydney’s west. The Scania P320 Class 3 pumper is valued at $885,000 and has been deployed to FRNSW’s St Marys Fire Station. It features a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), which allows a mixture of foam and water to extinguish flames more efficiently. Pressurized foam smothers The pressurized foam smothers the fuel feeding a fire, starving it of oxygen and aiding its suppression Th...

A fire has destroyed an automotive workshop in Smithfield this afternoon. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) received a number of Triple Zero (000) calls to a building fire in Percival Road just after 2.20 pm. Crews reported large volumes of smoke whilst enroute to the incident and requested more resources.  Scene by NSW Ambulance Fifteen fire trucks, including a ladder platform truck, and 60 firefighters battled the blaze and stopped the fire from spreading to adjoining properties. Crews...

A fire believed to have started from a lithium-ion battery-powered electric bike or scooter left on charge has destroyed a shed in Queanbeyan. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) were called to a property in Miller Street following reports of a fire around 7.15 am. Upon arrival, firefighters found a shed at the back of a property well alight and quickly got to work. Crews took just over 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze and there were no reported injuries. The shed was completely destroyed in the fire...

In a first for Australian fire agencies, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is partnering with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to develop cutting-edge, Artificial Intelligence-based immersive disaster simulation and training systems. UNSW has invested more than $35 million in multiple AI-powered programs that FRNSW intend to use to train its firefighters in realistic scenarios. Virtual reality setting Firefighters will be able to train in a VR setting at the FRNSW Emergency Services Under...

A smash repair business in Guildford has been destroyed by an intense fire earlier. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) were called to the premises in Clarke Street just before 5.00 am. More than 10 trucks, including a ladder platform, and 50 firefighters arrived on scene to find the property well alight. Reported injuries and investigations Crews quickly got to work to contain the fire but withdrew after the roof collapsed. Firefighters continued to tackle the blaze from above using the la...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is warning the public not to take dangerous risks to stay warm during the current polar snap that’s gripping Australia’s east coast. A strong low-pressure system continues to pull cold air from the Southern Ocean near Antarctica this week, generating temperatures up to six degrees below average in the eastern parts of the country. NSW’s Northern Tablelands FRNSW is encouraging the public not to engage in risky behavior to heat up homes during the...

A popular Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighter has hung up his helmet after 45 years of dedicated service to the community. Salamander Bay Captain, Malcolm Smith's four-and-a-half decades of service was formally recognised at a weekend retirement function at the Nelson Bay Golf Club, attended by firefighting colleagues from across the state. The venue was a familiar one for Malcolm. In 2015, he and his crew worked through the night to tackle a huge fire that ultimately devastated the buildi...

The first shipment of five-thousand new smoke alarms has arrived at Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) headquarters, ready for installation in homes across the state this winter. FRNSW is encouraging residents to ensure their homes are fitted with working smoke alarms to protect themselves and their loved ones from fire. In just over a month, five people have been killed in residential fires in New South Wales. Importance of smoke alarms The new batch of alarms will be distributed to FRNSW stat...

A versatile, modern fire truck, stationed at Merimbula on the state’s far South Coast, has received the “thumbs up” from local firefighters. Regarded as a “Jack-of-all-trades” appliance, the Mercedes Atego Class 1 tanker is valued at $660,000 and arrived in station last month. The tanker boasts a ‘pump and roll’ feature which allows it to extinguish fires whilst on the move and it provides the latest ‘HALO’ cabin protection system which spr...

Fire protection in the Lake Macquarie region has been bolstered with the arrival of a new bushfire tanker at Fire and Rescue NSW’s Tingira Heights station. The Isuzu Category One tanker, valued at $450,000, is the latest of the 34 new appliances funded by the NSW Government, in line with the recommendations of the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. It is a multi-purpose, off-road capable truck that can carry more water than typical urban fire tankers. Modern features on the truck The...

The Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) station at Tamworth, in the state’s New England district, has received a new vehicle to support its response to local Hazardous Materials incidents. The AMTEK Mercedes Sprinter is valued at $160,000 and will be used to carry vital supplies to assist firefighters dealing with prolonged fires and HAZMAT operations. The new van replaces an existing HAZMAT supply vehicle, which has reached the end of its service life. It will carry multiple breathing appar...

Two Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have helped save the life of a motorist after a road crash at Fairfield West, in Sydney’s south-west. Station Officers, Stuart Smith and Michael Nguyen, were travelling from FRNSW’s Emergency Services Academy around 4 pm, when they came across the crash scene at a Polding Street roundabout. It appeared an SUV had been clipped and ran into a pole and trees. FRNSW academy instructors The officers, both FRNSW academy instructors, quickly t...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) will start as ‘underdog’ this weekend when it takes on its Queensland counterparts in a rugby league State-of-Origin-style encounter at North Sydney Oval. The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) has enjoyed the edge over its southern rivals over the past few years but this Sunday, FRNSW, known as the Phoenix, is determined to turn the tables. Both teams onto the field A bagpiper will welcome both teams onto the field ahead of the 11.30 am kick-off A bagpi...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging the community to be extra vigilant following a fatal house fire at St Huberts Island on the Central Coast this morning. Six fire trucks and more than 30 firefighters, as well as one NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) truck, responded to reports of a blaze in Mercator Parade around 5.40 am. FRNSW crew responds to St Huberts Island fire Upon arrival, firefighters found the property well alight and quickly got to work Upon arrival, firefighters found the property...

Firefighters are warning the public not to use outdoor barbecues as indoor heaters this winter, following an emergency that almost claimed the lives of a family this morning at Wentworthville, in Sydney’s west. A family of five was overcome by Carbon Monoxide fumes in their Wentworth Avenue unit around 4.15 am. They had brought a charcoal BBQ in from their balcony in a bid to stay warm. Instead, the build-up of poisonous fumes rendered three of the residents unconscious. Fire and Rescue...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has welcomed more than 250 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony at the Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills in Sydney’s west. Making up the new intake are 59 new permanent firefighters, with an additional 194 qualifying as on-call firefighters. 250 new Fire FRNSW firefighters graduate Many of the new first responders already hail from a community service background Many of the new first responders already hail from a community servic...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has unveiled its new-look, refurbished fire station at Coledale, in the state’s Illawarra, earning the resounding support of its local firefighters. After a $1.65 million facelift, the station now has modern bathroom amenities, separate ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ zones, and extra ventilation in the engine bay. Other improvements include: New roof for entire station Extension of existing engine bay to provide additional clearance Construct...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has extinguished a fire that broke out in an industrial galvanizing factory at Girraween, in Sydney’s west. More than 20 FRNSW appliances and 60 firefighters responded to the incident in Amax Avenue around 11.45 am. Crews quickly got to work and tackled the intense blaze, which had taken hold in the premises. Aerial ladder appliance deployed An aerial ladder appliance was used in the operations to wet the roof, while firefighters worked on the ground to stop...

It was the purr-fect ending for an adventurous moggy in Meadowbank in Sydney's north west. Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters were called to a residence in Constitution Road at 1.00 pm after the owner reported the feline, 'Vader', was stuck in the roof cavity of the home. The crew quickly located the cat above a light fitting in the kitchen and after switching off the power, firefighters cut the gyprock to gain access to the feline. Vader was clearly in a hurry to be released as he poked his...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has been called to a serious truck crash in Vineyard in Sydney's North West. Two semi-trailers collided head-on at the intersection of Chapman Road and Windsor Road just before 12.30pm. Five fire trucks and 20 firefighters arrived on scene to find one truck fully engulfed in flames and spreading to the other truck and trailer that was carrying an excavator. Quick response from FRNSW Crews quickly got to work and contained the intense blaze within about an hour...