FIRE has ripped through a unit block in Rutherford overnight, forcing 20 people to evacuate their homes.
Fire and Rescue NSW received multiple Triple-0 calls just before 2am on Wednesday to reports of a unit fire and a person reported missing.
More than 10 crews from the Hunter Region battled the blaze in Churchill Crescent. Residents had to be evacuated from the two-storey complex of eight units.
All residents were accounted for, but two of the units could not be saved and were destroyed in the blaze.
One person was treated by paramedics for shock, with no other injuries recorded.
The site was handed over to NSW Police at 4am for further investigations into the cause of the fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW released a statement with a 'timely reminder' to encourage people to protect their homes during winter. Remember to:
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Test your smoke alarm/s are working. If not, change the batteries or replace the alarm.
- Keep everything one metre away from the heater
- Do not overload power boards with appliances like heaters and electric blankets
- Strong fire screens should be set up in front of open fires
- Turn off your electric blanket at night
- Do not use outdoor heating and cooking equipment inside your home. The use of this type of equipment indoors could lead to the build-up of carbon monoxide which could be fatal.
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