Upward of a dozen people were evacuated from an apartment complex on Rocket Street after a first-floor unit went up in flames on Monday evening, with three Fire and Rescue NSW crews and a HAZMAT unit responding to the call.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst Station Officer Chris Sanders explained the unit was 'totally involved' in fire by the time crews arrived after initial reports were received at around 9.10pm, and was largely destroyed despite firefighters' fast response.
All in breathing apparatus, the initial fire crew brought the fire under control in about 15 minutes before a second entered the premises to complete extinguishment.
A third was on stand-by at the scene, while police and ambulance crews attended as well.
"Fortunately the occupants appeared to be at home when the fire began and they evacuated themselves, it's an L-shaped complex so we also evacuated about a dozen occupants from adjacent units to ensure safety," Station Officer Sanders explained.
"We contained the fire to the first-floor unit, which I'd estimate was about 70 per cent destroyed with significant smoke and water damage sustained as well. There was some smoke damage to the units above as well."
There was no injuries to any person during the incident, with the scene handed to police after the blaze was completely extinguished.
The fire is believed to have started in the unit's lounge room, however origin and cause will be confirmed as part of subsequent investigations from Fire and Rescue and police.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
