Family devastated by fire
Family devastated by fire
A man who woke up early for a glass of water has saved his sleeping family from a fire which has destroyed their home and Christmas presents at Ryde.
The devastation has been made worse because the house was uninsured.
Just minutes before dawn the Fatile family - including four children – were left fearing for their lives.
The father raised the alarm after he woke to get a glass of water.
Daughter Eva was awoken by her mum while Neama her brother Zayd out of the house.
“I was under blanket and my sister Neama got me but I didn't know there was a fire,” said five-year-old Zayd.
Sister Eva added: “I was just asleep and Mum woke me up and I saw all just orange. I just ran outside.”
Station Officer Bruce McIntosh of NSW Fire and rescue said the fire was so intense,a nd with the roof collapsing, firefighters had to remain outside.
Save for a few treasured memories, the family lost almost everything – including Christmas presents.
To make matters worse, the family have no contents insurance.
Investigators believe the fire was started by a faulty fridge.
Fire warning
A spate of nearly 45 NSW home fires over the past five days has left one man dead and several people injured.
The man died on Monday at his Greenacre unit in Sydney as he tried to save his pet birds.
On Monday a house in Cowra was destroyed by fire, and on Sunday two Whalan residents suffered smoke inhalation when a fire destroyed their home.
Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said the recent fires, all since last Friday, served as a warning to residents to remain vigilant.
He said nearly a quarter of all residential fires occurred during summer.
"People assume it will never happen to them. But I assure you it can. Don't leave your home fire safety to chance," he said.
"The most important thing you can do in your home is to have a working smoke alarm and a practised home escape plan."
To help identify potential risks householders are encouraged to conduct an online home fire safety audit at www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au
