Smoke alarm ensures all safe at child care centre fire
Published: 13th July 2006
All the children and staff at a child care centre in Hurstville escaped safely from a fire in their building after being alerted by a smoke alarm. It is believed that the 25 children were asleep when the fire started.
The NSW Fire Brigades received several triple zero calls to the fire just before 1 pm on 12 July 2006. Fifteen firefighters from three brigades were immediately responded. Fire crews were on the scene within six minutes and found the child care centre well alight and all staff and children safe outside.
No-one was injured; however Ambulance officers assessed the children as a precaution. The Police arranged for the children to be temporarily looked after at another child care centre.
Firefighters attacked the fire and contained it to the front section of the single level brick building within 15 minutes. The fire extensively damaged two rooms and the rest of the building was affected by heat and smoke. Fire crews remained at the scene throughout the afternoon mopping up and assisting with investigations.
The NSW Fire Brigades Fire Investigation and Research Unit are working with the Police to determine the cause of the fire.