Homeowners cautioned: Over ten fires only weeks apart in Sydney’s southwest

Residents are being warned to take extra care in their homes with a surge in the number of residential fires in Sydney’s southwest. Find out what you should look out for.

Fire NSW generic. Picture: Fire Rescue NSW

Ten homes have been left devastated across Sydney’s southwest in a matter of weeks, with desperate calls from Fire and Rescue NSW for residents to be on alert.

Firefighters battled blazes across houses, garages, garden sheds and cars throughout the region, with some caused by electrical faults and unattended cooking on stoves.

Fire Rescue South-West Zone Commander, Greg Wright said the surge in residential fires could likely get worse going into winter with more reliance on heaters and “cooking more hot meals”.

“Last winter, we had 1063 residential fires in NSW,” he said, which shows an increase of 119 incidents since 2022. Superintendent Wright said eight people lost their lives in the fires and left 115 others injured.

Recent fires include the destruction of a cottage on Barkers Lodge Rd, Oakdale and an aircon short circuit fire on Crookston Drive, Camden South on April 1, a single storey house burnt down on Fern Ave, Bradbury March 31, a car fire in a car port on Lois Lane in Minto on 27 March and the destruction of a home on Matthew Ave in Heckenberg on March 18.

Barkers Lodge Rd, Oakdale dog breeding facility building burnt down. Picture: Rural Fire Service NSW

Bradbury house fire on 30 March 2024. Picture: 7NEWS

Heckenberg house fire 18 March 2024. Picture: Facebook

Among 43 per cent of the cases, Fire Rescue NSW reported the fires started in the kitchen or cooking areas.

FRNSW found three of the most recent house fires in southwest Sydney to be linked to food burning on stoves erupting in flames.

Bradbury house fire on Fern Ave, with firefighters on scene 31 March 2024. Picture: Facebook

“Fortunately, our crews got there in the nick of time to limit the damage,” Superintended Wright said in relation to those incidents but emphasised the importance of not getting “distracted when you’re cooking.”

Fire Rescue NSW South-West Zone Commander, Superintendent Gregory Wright. Picture: Fire Rescue NSW

Residents should check their homes are fitted with at least one working smoke alarm, and should check this as soon as possible.

Bookings can also be made for a Home Fire Safety Visit to be made by local Fire Rescue crews and free replacements to fix smoke alarms also available.

Barkers Lodge Rd, Oakdale dog breeding facility building burnt down. Picture: Rural Fire Service NSW

Barkers Lodge Rd, Oakdale dog breeding facility building burnt down. Picture: Rural Fire Service NSW

“If your smoke alarm has faded to an ugly yellow colour, it’s reached its 10-year use-by date and should be replaced immediately … only a working smoke alarm will save lives,” Superintended Wright said.

Home Fire Safety Visits can be booked via the FRNSW website.