Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging people to stay vigilant about home fire safety this winter following two deaths in less than a week.
The first fatal blaze broke out in Randwick on 7 July, when multiple Triple Zero calls reported flames coming from the windows of an Alison Road unit.
A resident believed to have been in her late 70s was retrieved from the unit but died at the scene.
Five days later, emergency services were called to a fire inside a home on Robwald Avenue in Coniston.
A person believed to have also been aged in their 70s was found dead inside the premises.
While investigations continue into the causes of both fires, FRNSW is reminding the public to do all it can to stay safe during the most dangerous time of the year for house fires.
So far this winter, six people have died in structure fires across NSW. There have been 19 such deaths since the beginning of the year.
FRNSW has already attended 480 residential fires this winter and 2,025 so far in 2026.
FRNSW provides free home fire safety visits where firefighters check or install smoke alarms and provide fire safety advice to residents. Bookings for these visits can be made by contacting local fire stations or at https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/safety-visits
Alarming video footage of a third recent incident has also highlighted the fire risks posed by everyday household items.
On 1 July, firefighters were called to a home in Naremburn after an electric blanket used as a pet bed on an outdoor couch burst into flames.
The security camera footage shows the blanket smouldering for several minutes before igniting. The resident and FRNSW crews were able to extinguish the flames before they could spread.
The blanket had been left unattended and folded over itself while switched on, creating a dangerous fire hazard.
Quotes attributed to Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib:
“These two deaths are a stark and tragic reminder about home fire dangers in winter.
“We know that when temperatures drop, the risk of house fires increases as people use more electrical devices and heating appliances, raising the number of potential fire hazards.
“Take today as an opportunity to make sure you have working smoke alarms or to book in a free home fire safety visit with your local FRNSW crew.”
Quotes attributed to FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell:
“I encourage residents to utilise our free home fire safety visit program which will have firefighters visit your home to check your smoke alarms and provide fire safety advice to keep yourself and your family safe this winter. Contact your local fire station or go to https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/safetyvisits to request a visit.
“You can also take some simple steps to keep you and your family safe. For example, regularly check your smoke alarm, always keep looking when cooking, keep a fire blanket and extinguisher in your kitchen, keep flammable materials a metre from the heater, and don’t overload power board or power points.
“Always check electric and heated blankets before turning them on, and look for frays, scorch marks, exposed wires or controller damage. If anything looks off, bin it.”
Media Release: Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW)
