Probe into Dee Why fire that forced evacuation of 40 people from block of flats
A fierce fire in the underground car park of a Dee Why unit complex is being investigated by authorities.
Manly
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Investigations are underway into a fierce early morning fire in an underground car park that forced the evacuation of 40 people from a five-storey block of flats.
Two people were treated for smoke inhalation, two cars were badly damaged and stored furniture was destroyed in the 5am blaze at Dee Why on Sunday.
NSW Fire and Rescue received multiple triple zero calls after acrid black smoke was seen billowing from the entrance to the two-level car park in Delmar Pde.
Fire investigators were still on the site on Monday to work out the cause of the fire.
When firefighters from Dee Why arrived at the block they found large volumes of choking smoke coming from both levels of the basement car park.
The smoke was also funnelling up stairwells into the block’s residential area.
People, dressed in their nightclothes, began evacuating the building.
Due to the seriousness of the fire, the Fire and Rescue incident commander called in more brigades.
Ten fire trucks, including the Dee Why unit, a rescue vehicle and a hazardous materials unit, came from Narrabeen, Manly, Forestville, Mosman, Neutral Bay, Willoughby, Crows Nest and Alexandria to battle the blaze.
While Northern Beaches Police officers helped evacuate the building, firefighters wearing breathing apparatus carried hoses into the smoke filled basement levels to search for the seat of the fire with the assistance of thermal imaging cameras.
Fire and Rescue spokesman Rob Jansen said that with smoke filling the rest of the occupied unit block, the safe evacuation of residents was a priority.
“The firefighters found cars and furniture in a storage area alight,” Insp. Jansen said.
“There was smoke damage to other stored items.
“There were concerns for the safety of residents as the smoke funnelled up a stairwell from the basement.
“Fire investigators are still on the scene.”
Insp. Jansen said one elderly woman, and a man, were treated by ambulance officers for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters spent Sunday ventilating the car park, using extractor fans, of a build up of hazardous levels of carbon monoxide so investigators could enter the basement.
No units were badly damaged.