Residents evacuated as fire burns in Merrylands unit

Twelve firetrucks battled a blaze that was tearing through a Western Sydney apartment block. See the dramatic video and read the witness accounts of families that had to flee the building.

• Uesile Frase, 13, missing from Toongabbie
• FOMO response: pill testing not the answer

Twelve firetrucks were battling a blaze that was tearing through a Western Sydney apartment block.

The fire broke out at about 11.40am.

It started at a unit block at Todd St and Sherwood Rd in Merrylands on the top level and spread to the neighbouring apartment through the roof of the brick building.

Twelve firetrucks were battling a blaze that is tearing through an apartment block in Sydney's Merrylands. Picture: Seven News

The fire started at a unit block at Todd St and Sherwood Rd in Merrylands.

The fire has destroyed much of the roof for the building. Picture: @Jonesy_1111

Residents have been evacuated. Picture: @Jonesy_111

A Fire and Rescue spokesman said they could not say where the fire originated.

Fire and Rescue spent more than two hours on site, with around 12 trucks set up on the road around the building and one ladder fighting the fire from above.

Residents and neighbours were evacuated when the fire started and no injuries have been reported yet.

Ahmed Mohammed was asleep in his unit on the second floor when his wife Maymona grabbed his leg and began shaking him.

“She told me there’s a fire. There’s smoke we have to leave,” he said.

Mr Mohammed is on of at least 12 families that fled the unit block fire carrying out his four children.

Ahmed Mohammed is on of at least 12 families that fled the unit block fire with his wife, carrying out his four children.

“It’s scary to evacuate like that especially with the children. We don’t know if our apartment is ok. We don’t know anything.”

Families are waiting on the side of Todd St for information. One woman, too upset to speak only nodded when asked if her apartment was destroyed.

“It could have been worse. My daughter and me [sic] weren’t home,” she said.

Joe Habib says he lost everything in the fire but was counting his blessings that he was still alive.

Joe Habib has lost everything in the fire. From the street he can see into his apartment.

“Everything’s gone. My clothes, my books, my food. I’m homeless,” Mr Habib said

“I count my blessings I’m still alive.”

Firefighters successfully rescued a small domestic dog from the unit block fire. They were unable to find the owners however firefighters will look after the dog until the owners are identified. Picture: Twitter / FRNSW

Mr Habib lives on the top floor of the Sherwood Rd unit. He was out visiting his sister in Punchbowl and missed the fire, but he is still feeling the pain of loss.

“I’ve lived here 8 years and now what do I have?”

Firefighters successfully rescued a small domestic dog from the unit block fire. They were unable to find the owners however firefighters will look after the dog until the owners are identified.

Temperatures are currently reaching 34 degrees in Merrylands and it is likely to climb as high as 36 degrees today.

At this stage a Fire and Rescue spokesman said they could not say where the fire originated.