Narrabri Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a house fire at a unit complex in Nandewar Street just before 5.30am on Saturday, July 23.
Crews received information en route from multiple triple zero (000) callers regarding the possibility of persons being unaccounted for and the location involving aged care/disability housing.
Upon arrival, crews confirmed a working fire in a unit block with one unit fully involved resulting in Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 506 Wee Waa and Fire and Rescue NSW Station 229 Boggabri responding in conjunction with local Rural Fire Service volunteers to assist.
Fire attack crews protected exposures and extinguished the fire inside the unit, which was totally destroyed. However, rapid actions from firefighters prevented the fire from advancing into the units on either side, which only suffered minor smoke and water damage.
During the firefighting operations, firefighters deployed the use of the new Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to provide an aerial view of the incident for increased situational awareness for the incident controller and use of thermal imaging to help identify exposures and potential hazards.
A number of the complex’s residents were treated for smoke inhalation by firefighters and NSW Ambulance paramedics before being transported to hospital.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and any persons with information should contact Narrabri Police on 02 6792 7199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Narrabri Fire and Rescue has thanked NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Rural Fire Service and the Energy Authority for attending and assisting with the incident.
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 264 Coonabarabran was thanked for sending an appliance to Narrabri to maintain fire coverage in Narrabri should another incident occur.
A Nandewar Street unit was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Photo: Narrabri Fire and Rescue
