Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner commends firefighters following fatal blaze - Epping
Published: 30 Jul 2025 04:13pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM has praised the actions of firefighters who rescued a man from a fierce fire in Epping early this morning.
Just after 4.25am, FRNSW responded to Triple Zero (000) calls reporting a fire at a commercial premises on Oxford Street at Epping in Sydney’s north-west.
Several callers reported hearing screams prompting fears a person was trapped inside.
Eleven fire trucks and more than 50 firefighters responded to the scene, supported by NSW Police and NSW Ambulance.
Crews arrived to find a commercial storage unit on the first floor above a restaurant well alight. Firefighters forced entry, crawling beneath a jammed door to access the unit. They located an unconscious man and carried him from the burning building.
Firefighters commenced CPR and the man, who was in a critical condition, was transferred to to Royal North Shore Hospital where he later died.
FRNSW Commissioner Fewtrell said the firefighters’ actions were commendable.
“I was impressed by the professionalism of the firefighters doing their job. This is what our firefighters train for and they did a good job under trying conditions,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.
FRNSW Fire Investigators are supporting NSW Police, who have commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Updated: 30 Jul 2025 02:18pm
Related safety topics
The best way to keep you and your family safe is to prevent fires from occurring and know what to do in case of a fire.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
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