A man has died in a ferocious blaze in a disability support home in Sydney’s south-west, the ABC understands.
Investigations are ongoing into a fire that broke out just after 12:25am on Saturday, destroying a property on Corder Drive, Spring Farm, near Camden.
Three people were living at the address, and when fire crews arrived, two had managed to evacuate, but one person did not make it out.
Three people were living at the home when the fire broke out. (ABC News)
Several sources spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, confirming that two people living with disabilities were being cared for at the property when the fire took hold.
They also confirmed that a man in his 60s remains unaccounted-for and is believed to be the victim.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said his body was found at the rear of the house.
Two others, including a support worker, escaped with minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Superintendent Dewberry described the fire, which is not being treated as suspicious, as moving rapidly and “extremely intense” with 22 firefighters and six trucks sent to the area.
“The fire has got up into the roof area quickly and tore through it, tore across the top, we’ve had significant roof collapse,” he said.
The body of the deceased man was found at the rear of the house. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Smoke alarms saved lives
He added that it was thanks to the smoke alarm that two people survived, warning that the toll could have been much worse.
“We know it only takes a matter of minutes for a small fire to develop in a room and then engulf that room, and rapidly spread throughout the whole home. We’re talking less than 10 minutes.
“Definitely a miracle, but it’s those smoke alarms activating got those people up and out.”
The reason why one person was unable to escape would form part of the investigation, Superintendent Dewberry said.
“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people living in their own homes to become confused and disorientated when we’ve got a fire that’s filling up with thick black smoke, that smoke is having an impact on them and also impacting their thought process”.
Fire investigators and NSW Police are investigating what caused the fire. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Fire investigators and police have started to piece together the details of how the fire started and why.
They are taking pictures of the scene, and a drone is mapping the area.
“Investigators will move in … and start to excavate, start to peel away and dig away the debris, starting to look for the lowest areas of burning as part of the process,” Superintendent Dewberry said.
A granny flat attached to the property was not impacted, and the residents escaped unscathed.
Drones are mapping the scene of the fire and taking footage. (ABC News)
Local, Jose Nodar, was out for his morning walk when he discovered the burnt-out home.
“That [the fire] had to be intense, it’s brick outside for it to have collapsed like it did, it had to be,” Mr Nodar said.
He said he heard sirens on Friday night but didn’t realise firefighters were going to a fatal incident nearby.
“That’s got to be a hell of a way to start the year. My thoughts go out to them.”