Unit block fire in Homebush Bay
Published: 17th September 2008
This evening firefighters from Silverwater, Concord, Lidcombe, Burwood, Parramatta, Rhodes, Rydalmere, Alexandria and Ryde responded to numerous Triple Zero calls to a fire in a unit block in Bennelong Road, Homebush Bay. On route to the scene, Silverwater firefighters saw flames leaping from the top of a unit block and immediately called for more resources. Firefighters arrived within six minutes and wearing breathing apparatus proceeded to level eight of the apartment where they located a man who had suffered burns to his face and upper body. There were reports that another person had been injured in the fire so fire crews carried out a thorough search of the unit but did not find anyone else inside. It was later discovered that a second man had self-evacuated from the apartment and taken a taxi to a nearby hospital. The quick work of firefighters prevented the fire from taking hold of the adjacent apartments. Around 160 people were evacuated from the building while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The unit suffered extensive damage but the adjoining units were saved and only suffered smoke and heat damage. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze.