Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner joins Vinnies CEO Sleepout to support homeless
Published: 18 Jun 2026 10:30am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell will spend tonight ‘sleeping rough’ as part of the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout, helping to raise awareness and funds for the homeless.
The annual Sydney Sleepout at the White Bay cruise terminal in Rozelle brings business, government and community leaders together to experience the nightly plight faced by displaced people.
Funds raised by the event support the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide emergency accommodation, meals, practical assistance and long-term support services.
FRNSW is also developing a program to further protect the homeless from fire.
FRNSW’s Community Risk Reduction unit is seeking to connect outreach organisations with their local fire stations to directly engage the homeless about fire risks and provide safety advice.
The information relates to lithium-ion battery protection, promoting FRNSW’s “Never Bin A Battery” warnings; cooking inside tents; barbecue and kitchen safety; and the need for working smoke alarms, tips that can also be found on the FRNSW website – https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au.
Experiencing his fourth annual Sleepout, Commissioner Fewtrell will be joined for the first time by the crew of the Menai Fire Station, in Sydney’s south, keen to support the cause.
Quotes attributed to Commissioner Fewtrell: “Firefighters regularly see the impact of homelessness in our communities.
“We see people sleeping rough on our streets, in parks and in bushland camps.
“It’s particularly concerning to see people risking fires during winter as they try to stay warm.
“Together with Vinnies, hopefully we can make a difference in the lives of the homeless.
“Homelessness can also take the form of insecure housing or temporary shelter where people are in greater danger of injury or death due to fire.
“They might be sleeping in a car or a van, or in a friend’s shed or garage that isn’t fitted with working smoke alarms or they might be dangerously overloading power boards and extension cords to run appliances and heaters.”
Updated: 18 Jun 2026 10:44am