Latest news with #FireandRescueNSW
7NEWS
3 days ago
- General
- 7NEWS
New winter fire safety warning as Sydney couple faces rebuild after blaze destroys home
A mother who dragged her husband to safety from a devastating blaze — which has sparked new warnings over fire safety — is a 'brave' woman who 'won't ever back down,' according to their son. Maria Charalambous, 68, was taking a shower early Friday morning when a fire broke out in the bedroom where her husband Nick, 82, was sleeping. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bonnyrigg bungalow destroyed by fire. 'I pulled his legs. I said, 'Come on, wake up, wake up, there is a fire,'' Maria recalled. Authorities say the situation could have turned into an 'absolute tragedy' if Maria had not been awake at the time, as the fire spread rapidly throughout the home. Their son, Nikos, said he was in shock but not surprised by his mother's heroic actions at the Bonnyrigg Heights property in Sydney, where the couple has lived for more than 30 years. 'She's a small lady, but she's so brave,' he told 'She's tough. She won't ever back down. I'm really proud of her.' The blaze is believed to have been caused by an electric heater plugged into a wall outlet. Nick had left the heater running overnight to keep their dogs warm. Four of the couple's beloved dogs managed to escape, but tragically, three were lost in the fire. No smoke alarm sounded, as it had been turned off. Flames completely destroyed the family home, along with irreplaceable memories — including photographs, videos, and other treasured possessions. 'Everything was just gone in a second,' Nikos said. 'My parents are going back to the house every day, trying to salvage what they can. They're trying to keep busy. There's no set plan at the moment.' In another heartbreaking blow, the couple had recently cancelled their home insurance as a cost-saving measure. Nikos hopes his parents' ordeal serves as a warning to others. 'When you hear stories like this, you never think it will happen to you — but it can,' he said. He also condemned the 'disgusting' online trolls who have targeted his family in the wake of the tragedy. Fortunately, his parents are not on social media and have been shielded from most of the negativity. 'It's so sad that my parents are in this position,' he said. 'They've just lost their home — something they've worked their whole lives for. The cruel comments are not needed. We wouldn't wish this on anyone.' Nikos has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to help his parents get back on their feet. Winter warning Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said there has been a rise in dangerous fires as winter sets in — prompting renewed warnings. He stressed the importance of keeping electric heaters at least one metre away from flammable objects and recommended switching them off overnight. 'The first line of defence in an emergency is a smoke alarm that is less than 10 years old,' Dewberry told He added that in nearly half of house fire emergencies, smoke alarms are either non-compliant or not installed correctly. 'Know the risks. Don't overload power boards, test electric blankets, be careful with heat packs, and don't leave food unattended on stovetops,' he said. NSW authorities have also issued a separate warning about the dangers of hot foods and liquids, particularly for children. In 2024, more than 400 children required specialised medical care for scalds caused by accidental spills. An additional 48 children suffered contact burns from hot surfaces like stoves, cooktops, and barbecues. 'It's crucial to remember that hot food and drinks, which may feel safe for an adult, can cause serious burns to a child,' said Torey Lawrence, head of burns at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. 'Children's skin is much thinner than adults', and even a small amount of hot liquid can result in deep, severe burns. 'Burns injuries can cause both life-long injuries and scarring. These can have a lasting impact on a child's physical, social, emotional and mental wellbeing.' What to do if someone is burned
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Mystery as arsonists target items left out for collection in Inner West suburb
A Sydney suburb has been targed in a series of arson attacks after locals left out items for a local giveaway group. Locals in Leichardt, in the city's Inner West, took to a community social media group to reveal items classified as 'street bounty', including a couch, boxes and a mattress, had been set alight. It is understood there were up to three different incidents on Sunday. One woman warned others to be careful where they place pay-it-forward items out. 'Anyone with things outside their house as bounty or council pick up items: beware, I just had some small items set alight outside my house in Leichardt,' she wrote. 'The fire brigade was called and they said it was the 3rd one this afternoon. 'Then another pile of things was (sic) alight around the corner.' A spokesperson for Fire and Rescue NSW told NewsWire there was no information on how the fires started but the most likely cause was deliberate. Just after 3.40pm firefighters responded to a lounge on fire on the side of the road on Percival Street. A nearby vehicle was damaged by the heat. A short time later, at about 4.30pm, they extinguished a rubbish fire on Albert Street and at 4.50pm, another on National Street. Police confirmed they attended the fires to determine whether they were suspicious. Numerous residents said they had also seen sporadic fires across the streets of Leichardt. 'I walked past a house tonight where someone had set alight the council pickup,' one resident said. 'The homeowners had just arrived home to find it.' A second added: 'We saw some boxes alight this afternoon after soccer on MacKenzie Street.' '(A) bag of stuff was on fire in (the) park on the corner of Elswick and William St,' another wrote. 'It looks like a mattress or something has been set on fire on the footpath at the top of Hill St near Balmain Rd,' a fourth said. 'Dumped office chair and a bag of junk set alight on corner Albert/Elswick this afternoon,' another local said. 'The Firies said they had just put out another similar fire and there were more yesterday.' Many were shocked to see that items that had been left out in acts of goodwill, had been destroyed. Others saw the lighter side of the situation, writing: 'Someone's been arson around'.
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
'Touch and go': firies in daring rescue with makeshift raft, dogs and darkness
A Fire and Rescue NSW crew has pulled off an amazing rescue near Kempsey during the NSW mid-north coast floods. The crew rescued two people and their working dogs from a flooded, isolated farm near Kempsey, on the Mid North Coast. Strike Team Charlie was sent to help the residents, who were stranded for three days on the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey. The crew included leading firefighter Scott O'Shea, senior firefighter Gavin Smith, along with firefighters Michael Murphy and Patrick Burrows. A triangulation navigation app was used to identify the farmstead after local landmarks were flooded. The crew paddled in a rescue boat to reach the man (Troy) aged in his 60s, and a 32-year-old woman. Upon arrival, senior firefighter Smith said there was not a "dry bit of land anywhere" and two dogs were "on top of the roof of a kennel". The man (Troy) didn't want to leave his six working dogs behind, so the crew used a makeshift raft created by a bamboo fence to help in the rescue mission. They used firefighting cords to create leads for the dogs and tied the raft to their inflatable flood boat. With the man also on the raft to calm his dogs, they began the trek back. However, they had to improvise again after leading firefighter O'Shea said the raft became "an anchor with the extra weight". As a surfer, leading firefighter O'Shea has experience with stand-up paddle boards, so he volunteered to paddle it. Facing a two-kilometre paddle at night, the firefighters identified their next challenge; finding their way back in pitch black conditions. Their team leader, back at the temporary base of operations, radioed another fire crew from Wauchope, trained to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone, to assist. The drone was flown to meet the in-water crew and their passengers. Its in-built spotlight was activated to guide the paddlers through the flooded bush to the safety point. "It just made it a whole lot safer, and we knew once that drone was in the sky that everything was gonna be ok," leading firefighter O'Shea said. "It was touch and go there for a while." The return journey to safety took around two hours, while the journey to the couple and their dogs took around 30 minutes. The couple was then transported to Kempsey Hospital in another fire truck for treatment. Strike Team Charlie Leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the resilience and resourcefulness of the firefighters was outstanding. "I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals," Inspector Muller said. "Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'the drone is up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'. "They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction. "Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to the hospital." The man suffered mild hypothermia and the dogs were taken to Kempsey Showground. A Fire and Rescue NSW crew has pulled off an amazing rescue near Kempsey during the NSW mid-north coast floods. The crew rescued two people and their working dogs from a flooded, isolated farm near Kempsey, on the Mid North Coast. Strike Team Charlie was sent to help the residents, who were stranded for three days on the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey. The crew included leading firefighter Scott O'Shea, senior firefighter Gavin Smith, along with firefighters Michael Murphy and Patrick Burrows. A triangulation navigation app was used to identify the farmstead after local landmarks were flooded. The crew paddled in a rescue boat to reach the man (Troy) aged in his 60s, and a 32-year-old woman. Upon arrival, senior firefighter Smith said there was not a "dry bit of land anywhere" and two dogs were "on top of the roof of a kennel". The man (Troy) didn't want to leave his six working dogs behind, so the crew used a makeshift raft created by a bamboo fence to help in the rescue mission. They used firefighting cords to create leads for the dogs and tied the raft to their inflatable flood boat. With the man also on the raft to calm his dogs, they began the trek back. However, they had to improvise again after leading firefighter O'Shea said the raft became "an anchor with the extra weight". As a surfer, leading firefighter O'Shea has experience with stand-up paddle boards, so he volunteered to paddle it. Facing a two-kilometre paddle at night, the firefighters identified their next challenge; finding their way back in pitch black conditions. Their team leader, back at the temporary base of operations, radioed another fire crew from Wauchope, trained to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone, to assist. The drone was flown to meet the in-water crew and their passengers. Its in-built spotlight was activated to guide the paddlers through the flooded bush to the safety point. "It just made it a whole lot safer, and we knew once that drone was in the sky that everything was gonna be ok," leading firefighter O'Shea said. "It was touch and go there for a while." The return journey to safety took around two hours, while the journey to the couple and their dogs took around 30 minutes. The couple was then transported to Kempsey Hospital in another fire truck for treatment. Strike Team Charlie Leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the resilience and resourcefulness of the firefighters was outstanding. "I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals," Inspector Muller said. "Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'the drone is up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'. "They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction. "Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to the hospital." The man suffered mild hypothermia and the dogs were taken to Kempsey Showground. A Fire and Rescue NSW crew has pulled off an amazing rescue near Kempsey during the NSW mid-north coast floods. The crew rescued two people and their working dogs from a flooded, isolated farm near Kempsey, on the Mid North Coast. Strike Team Charlie was sent to help the residents, who were stranded for three days on the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey. The crew included leading firefighter Scott O'Shea, senior firefighter Gavin Smith, along with firefighters Michael Murphy and Patrick Burrows. A triangulation navigation app was used to identify the farmstead after local landmarks were flooded. The crew paddled in a rescue boat to reach the man (Troy) aged in his 60s, and a 32-year-old woman. Upon arrival, senior firefighter Smith said there was not a "dry bit of land anywhere" and two dogs were "on top of the roof of a kennel". The man (Troy) didn't want to leave his six working dogs behind, so the crew used a makeshift raft created by a bamboo fence to help in the rescue mission. They used firefighting cords to create leads for the dogs and tied the raft to their inflatable flood boat. With the man also on the raft to calm his dogs, they began the trek back. However, they had to improvise again after leading firefighter O'Shea said the raft became "an anchor with the extra weight". As a surfer, leading firefighter O'Shea has experience with stand-up paddle boards, so he volunteered to paddle it. Facing a two-kilometre paddle at night, the firefighters identified their next challenge; finding their way back in pitch black conditions. Their team leader, back at the temporary base of operations, radioed another fire crew from Wauchope, trained to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone, to assist. The drone was flown to meet the in-water crew and their passengers. Its in-built spotlight was activated to guide the paddlers through the flooded bush to the safety point. "It just made it a whole lot safer, and we knew once that drone was in the sky that everything was gonna be ok," leading firefighter O'Shea said. "It was touch and go there for a while." The return journey to safety took around two hours, while the journey to the couple and their dogs took around 30 minutes. The couple was then transported to Kempsey Hospital in another fire truck for treatment. Strike Team Charlie Leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the resilience and resourcefulness of the firefighters was outstanding. "I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals," Inspector Muller said. "Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'the drone is up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'. "They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction. "Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to the hospital." The man suffered mild hypothermia and the dogs were taken to Kempsey Showground. A Fire and Rescue NSW crew has pulled off an amazing rescue near Kempsey during the NSW mid-north coast floods. The crew rescued two people and their working dogs from a flooded, isolated farm near Kempsey, on the Mid North Coast. Strike Team Charlie was sent to help the residents, who were stranded for three days on the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey. The crew included leading firefighter Scott O'Shea, senior firefighter Gavin Smith, along with firefighters Michael Murphy and Patrick Burrows. A triangulation navigation app was used to identify the farmstead after local landmarks were flooded. The crew paddled in a rescue boat to reach the man (Troy) aged in his 60s, and a 32-year-old woman. Upon arrival, senior firefighter Smith said there was not a "dry bit of land anywhere" and two dogs were "on top of the roof of a kennel". The man (Troy) didn't want to leave his six working dogs behind, so the crew used a makeshift raft created by a bamboo fence to help in the rescue mission. They used firefighting cords to create leads for the dogs and tied the raft to their inflatable flood boat. With the man also on the raft to calm his dogs, they began the trek back. However, they had to improvise again after leading firefighter O'Shea said the raft became "an anchor with the extra weight". As a surfer, leading firefighter O'Shea has experience with stand-up paddle boards, so he volunteered to paddle it. Facing a two-kilometre paddle at night, the firefighters identified their next challenge; finding their way back in pitch black conditions. Their team leader, back at the temporary base of operations, radioed another fire crew from Wauchope, trained to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone, to assist. The drone was flown to meet the in-water crew and their passengers. Its in-built spotlight was activated to guide the paddlers through the flooded bush to the safety point. "It just made it a whole lot safer, and we knew once that drone was in the sky that everything was gonna be ok," leading firefighter O'Shea said. "It was touch and go there for a while." The return journey to safety took around two hours, while the journey to the couple and their dogs took around 30 minutes. The couple was then transported to Kempsey Hospital in another fire truck for treatment. Strike Team Charlie Leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the resilience and resourcefulness of the firefighters was outstanding. "I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals," Inspector Muller said. "Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'the drone is up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'. "They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction. "Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to the hospital." The man suffered mild hypothermia and the dogs were taken to Kempsey Showground.
7NEWS
25-05-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Farmers, working dogs saved in dramatic drone-assisted rescue
There has been a lucky escape for two people and their working dogs after their property was inundated by floodwaters. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) sent in Strike Team Charlie — five in-water rescue technicians — after the property near old Burgess Creek, about 10 kilometres from Kempsey on the NSW Mid-North Coast, was cut off by flood water. With all local landmarks underwater, it was up to the rescue crew to use a 'triangulation navigation' app to identify the property. Once identified, it took the rescue boat two hours to reach the occupants. Found at the flooded property was a man in his 60s suffering from mild hypothermia and a 32-year-old woman. The man refused to leave his six working dogs behind, and with no room in the small rescue boat, the crew had to think outside the box to get the dogs to safety. The crew tore down a bamboo fence to craft a makeshift raft, which transported the man and his six dogs. In pitch black and facing a 2km paddle back almost blind, the crew were forced to find additional help. Their team leader, who was back at the temporary base of operations, called in a fire crew from Wauchope who had training to use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drone. Using the drone with a handy built-in spotlight, the rescue crew were able to navigate their way out of the flooded waters. Both the man and woman were transported to hospital for treatment and checks. Strike Team Charlie leader, Inspector Gaven Muller, said the inventiveness of the firefighters was outstanding. 'I'm so proud of this team and the way it cared for those trapped people and their animals,' he said. 'Speaking over the radio, I told them, 'The drone's up, I've got you in my sights, just follow the light'. 'They said it was like a beacon and they knew they were heading in the right direction. 'Before long, they had reached safety and we managed to get the pair to hospital.'
Sky News AU
14-05-2025
- General
- Sky News AU
NSW firefighters recognised for bravery
Strike Team Oscar was put to the ultimate test during the 2019 Black Summer bushfires. The Fire and Rescue NSW squad were deployed to protect a community whilst facing catastrophic conditions. Those actions are now being recognised, highlighting the lengths firefighters go to to help people in need.
