Fatal fires in Sydney and NSW South Coast prompt renewed smoke alarm warning

Two elderly individuals have died in separate house fires in New South Wales, prompting a stark warning from Fire and Rescue NSW about the critical importance of working smoke alarms. The blazes occurred overnight in Villawood, Western Sydney, and Greenwell Point on the South Coast.

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We really feel the impact of these tragedies; it's something our firefighters experience firsthand.

In Villawood, firefighters rescued a woman in her 50s from a fire believed to be related to cooking. Tragically, another woman in her 70s died later in hospital from smoke inhalation. Investigators found no working smoke alarm in the Villawood property, a detail Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell highlighted as underscoring the necessity of these devices.

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We extend our condolences to those families, because we have a good understanding of the heartache that they're experiencing.

The second fatal fire occurred at a tourist park in Greenwell Point, where firefighters discovered the body of an elderly man inside a mobile home. Another man was hospitalized with serious burns and smoke inhalation. Crews managed the scene, which involved risks from gas bottles and nearby homes.

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We believe that fire was related to a cooking fire.

These incidents contribute to a concerning rise in fire fatalities this winter, with 13 deaths recorded across the state compared to nine during the same period last year. Despite fewer fires overall, the increase in deaths is a significant concern for the service. Commissioner Fewtrell noted that elderly residents are often over-represented in these statistics due to mobility issues, making fire safety for this demographic particularly crucial.

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Our fire investigators inspected the property and did not locate a working smoke alarm in the property.