Man, woman left with serious facial burns after granny flat fire in Berala

A neighbour has described hearing screams after a ferocious fire broke out at a western Sydney granny flat, where firefighters arrived to find two people with serious facial burns hosing themselves down.

A neighbour has described hearing screams after a ferocious fire broke out at a western Sydney granny flat, where firefighters arrived to find two people with serious facial burns hosing themselves down.

Emergency services were called to the property, behind a two-storey brick house, on Park Rd in Berala at 9.23am on Thursday.

Firefighters from six trucks arrived to find a granny flat up in flames, prompting them to bolster the response with crews from another two trucks.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said firefighters arrived to find a man and woman hosing themselves at the front of the property after suffering burns to the face, their airways, arms and legs.

He said two other people were rushed to hospital, having suffered smoke inhalation after the fire destroyed the granny flat, two cars, a shed and carport.

Emergency services at the scene. Picture: Brenden Wood

“Firefighters had their work cut out for them here this morning,’’ Supt Dewberry said.

“They’ve had to rotate through.”

Fire engulfed a granny flat and two cars at Berala on Thursday morning. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

Dramatic footage from a neighbour shows a policewoman assisting the couple as they walk towards an ambulance while the fire rages behind them in the granny flat.

“I heard some people screaming,’’ neighbour Sidra Mahboob said.

“I saw a flame and I thought a tyre burst. It was very scary.’’

The fire spread to the neighbouring property and hit part of another granny flat.

The street on which the fire occurred. Picture: Brenden Wood

Thirty firefighters from eight trucks, including teams from Lidcombe, Silverwater and Rydalmere, were met with towering flames and “large plumes” of smoke.

“It was pretty intense,because of the threats to adjoining properties,’’ Supt Dewberry said.

“When you combine the granny flat, the two cars and one shed, and one awning, that’s a lot of fire load.’’

Supt Dewberry said the fire had been brought under control by 10am, having burned for an hour and 20 minutes, and crews were ensuring there was no fire reignition.

One of two cars destroyed in the blaze. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

Investigators will be deployed to determine the cause of the blaze.

Firefighters treated the man with serious burns to his face before NSW Ambulance paramedics took over.

“We have no idea how the fire started at the moment,” Supt Dewberry said.

“We’ll go in once it’s extinguished.’’

It is unclear if the injured pair lived in the granny flat, with some evacuated neighbours saying the usual occupants were on holidays.

Supt Dewberry said there was a language barrier with the people taken to hospital.