Warwick Farm hotel fire: 100 guests evacuated, two children narrowly escape second floor blaze

Two children narrowly escaped a fire that broke out at a hotel west of Sydney overnight with 100 people evacuated, as authorities investigate rechargeable vapes and devices in the aftermath. Watch the video.

Two children narrowly escaped a fire that broke out at a hotel west of Sydney overnight, with 100 guests evacuated.

Emergency services were called to the hotel on Hume Highway, Warwick Farm, after multiple calls reporting a fire on the second floor around 1.30am.

“The children, staying in a hotel room, were woken by popping sounds and a bedside table alight,” a spokesperson from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) said.

“The flames spread to a pillow which was thrown into the hotel room shower by the quick-thinking occupants, and extinguished.

“However, upon returning to the room, the guests found a mattress well alight and immediately ran to safety outside, where they called triple-0.”

The aftermath of the blaze in Warwick Farm.

FRNSW crews were met with smoke emanating from the building and saw around 100 guests evacuating.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and made sure no one was trapped inside before ventilating the two floors.

Crews worked with NSW Police and hotel management to return guests to their rooms and arrange alternative accommodation for those unable to re-enter.

A FRNSW spokesperson said the cause of the fire was unknown at this stage but the reported “popping” sounds were consistent with a process known as ‘thermal runaway’ which is common in lithium-ion battery fires.

FRNSW investigators are examining a number of items at the fire scene, including several rechargeable vapes and other electrical devices.