Firies warn against using outdoor heaters inside after Lake Illawarra unit fire

Two people were taken to Shellharbour Hospital late on Wednesday night, after the heater burst into flames, igniting the top floor of the Pur Pur Avenue apartment.

This outdoor heater lead to a blaze in a Pur Pur Avenue apartment on June 5.

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Firefighters have warned Illawarra residents not to use “unconventional heating devices” inside their homes this winter, after a gas camp heater ignited a blaze in a Lake Illawarra unit overnight.

Two people were taken to Shellharbour Hospital with smoke inhalation late on Wednesday night, after the heater burst into flames, igniting the top floor of the Pur Pur Avenue apartment.

Three women and a child were in the home at the time the fire began, and Fire & Rescue NSW Duty Commander Illawarra Andrew Erlik said the situation could have been deadly if they were asleep.

“Being State of Origin last night a number of people were still awake at that time and fortunately the people [inside the home] were still awake when the fire started,” he said.

Fire & Rescue NSW Duty Commander Illawarra Andrew Erlik with the heating device that caused the blaze.

“If not things could have been very different.”

The blaze caused significant damage to the top floor of the apartment, while Inspector Erlik said the first floor was affected by smoke and heat.

Inspector Erlik said the heating device was being used upstairs to keep the residents warm, but was unsure how the blaze began.

“Whether materials were too close, whether it’s malfunctioned or what’s happened to cause the damage, I’m unaware of,” he said.

Inspector Erlik said it was concerning that people were using outdoor or unconventional heating devices in their homes, and urged people not to do so, as it could have potentially deadly effects

“Given the economic climate, the cost of gas and electricity it would not surprise me that people are using alternative methods and cheaper means of heating and fuel,” he said.

“Never use charcoal pats, gas cookers, things that are predominantly for outside use can emit carbon monoxide which can be lethal and cause fatalities.”

The blaze is not being treated as suspicious.

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