Fairfield, Orchard Rd: Fire and Rescue NSW battle house ablaze in Sydney’s southwest

An alarm raised by a neighbour has helped save a southwest Sydney home engulfed by a large blaze.

Emergency services have tamed a large blaze at a house in Sydney’s southwest.

About 2pm, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews rushed to a Fairfield house on Orchard Rd.

Neighbour Mohammed Alem immediately reacted when he saw smoke and flames coming from his neighbour’s home and called triple-0.

“I ran to their house and screamed out is anyone home, called the police and fire brigade,” Mr Alem said. “The doors were locked, we screamed out, but heard an explosion, so everyone walked back. We didn’t know what would happen, and we could see gas bottles.”

Multiple trucks quickly arrived on the scene, and managed to contain the fire before it spread to adjoining houses.

Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Philip Vaiciurgis said the fire started in the lounge room and there were a lot of gas cylinders in the home.

Detectives outside the scene of house fire at Orchard Rd, Fairfield. Two gas cylinders can be seen in the foreground. Picture: Paul Brescia

Fire crews have safely contained the blaze, and are now investigating. Picture: Paul Brescia

“The fire was extinguished in approximately 40 minutes by four crews,” Inspector Vaiciurgis said.

“At this stage, police are determining whether it was natural causes or suspicious.”

He confirmed no one was harmed by the fire, while four people were evacuated from the home next door.

FRNSW sniffer dogs were seen on the site, and are trained to identify any potential accelerants.

Fire crews were called back to the home just before 6pm as the flames reignited, and again managed to control the blaze.

Investigations will continue tomorrow as daylight returns.