Firefighters rescue family from a house fire this morning
Published: 3rd April 2008
NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins praised the efforts of firefighters who rescued a family of four from a house fire in Greenacre this morning.
"I have received reports of their tremendous efforts to save the lives of a family who were lucky to escape the fire with only minor injuries," said Commissioner Mullins.
Fire crews arrived on scene just before 6.30 am following Triple Zero calls alerting them to a fire in a two storey house.
They found the top storey of a house alight with thick, black smoke billowing from the roof and windows. People were reported trapped inside.
Firefighters used portable ladders to rescue a man and a woman and two children through a top storey window. There were two other children in the house at the time of the fire who escaped the blaze as crews arrived. The family suffered smoke inhalation, minor burns and were disorientated. They were treated by paramedics on the scene and taken straight to hospital.
A section of the roof collapsed as firefighters contained the blaze to the top storey. The cause of the house fire is still under investigation.
Firefighters battled the blaze which took one hour to extinguish. Six fire trucks from Lakemba, Bankstown, Burwood and Chester Hill fire stations responded along with the specialist units from Revesby and Parramatta.
Commissioner Mullins said this is a timely reminder of the danger of house fires and called on residents to ensure they protect themselves and their families by buying, installing and regularly checking smoke alarms.
"This weekend we are urging all residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks for the end of Daylight Saving on Sunday. It takes just a few minutes and can save your life," said Commissioner Mullins.