A man has died in an intense early-morning blaze that destroyed a disability support residence in Sydney’s south-west suburb of Spring Farm, near Camden.
The fire broke out shortly after 12:25am on Saturday at a property on Corder Drive. Three people were inside at the time: two residents escaped, but one did not.
Sources speaking anonymously to the ABC confirmed the home provided care for two people living with disabilities. A man in his 60s is believed to be the victim, with his body located at the rear of the house by firefighters.
The two survivors — including a support worker — sustained minor injuries and were treated at hospital.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry described the blaze as “extremely intense” and fast-moving, with flames quickly spreading into the roof space and causing significant collapse. Twenty-two firefighters and six trucks were deployed to battle the inferno.
The fire is not being treated as suspicious.
Superintendent Dewberry credited working smoke alarms with saving the lives of the two who escaped.
“It’s those smoke alarms activating that got those people up and out,” he said, adding that without them the outcome could have been far worse.
He noted fires can engulf an entire home in under 10 minutes and that thick smoke often causes disorientation, which may explain why one resident was unable to flee. This aspect will form part of the ongoing investigation.
Fire investigators and police are examining the scene, using drones for aerial mapping and systematically clearing debris to determine the fire’s origin and lowest point of burning.
An attached granny flat was unaffected, and its residents escaped unharmed.
Local resident Jose Nodar, who discovered the charred remains during his morning walk, described the damage as evidence of an extraordinarily fierce fire.
“That had to be intense — it’s brick outside for it to have collapsed like it did,” he said.
“That’s got to be a hell of a way to start the year. My thoughts go out to them.”
