On Wednesday morning, tragedy struck at St Johns Road in Heckenberg, Sydney's southwest, when a house fire claimed the lives of two victims: 46-year-old Vanessa Carmady and her six-year-old daughter. The fire broke out around 12:40 am, prompting emergency services to rush to the scene, where they encountered flames engulfing the single-level fibro home.
Fire and Rescue NSW received multiple Triple Zero (000) calls reporting the fire. When firefighters arrived, they found the entire property ‘completely involved’ with flames venting from the windows. Despite the rapid response, the ferocity of the blaze hindered any immediate efforts to rescue the victims trapped inside.
Superintendent Adam Dewberry of Fire and Rescue NSW recounted the heartbreaking reality of their arrival, saying, “There was nothing we could do; the fire had already taken hold.” Initially, eight people—four adults and four children—managed to evacuate the residence prior to the firefighters’ arrival. Among them was one girl, also taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital, who remains in serious condition.
The scene was marked by chaos as crews struggled to navigate through ‘thick oily smoke’ and flames. Despite firefighters attempting to gain entry through various points, the fire conditions prevented them from entering until after they extinguished the blaze. Tragically, it took about 90 minutes to completely subdue the flames.
Upon finally entering the home, firefighters discovered the bodies of Vanessa and her daughter. The home, once filled with life, was reduced to ash and wreckage. “It’s absolutely just a shell of itself,” Dewberry lamented, describing the devastation. The loss has left the local community heartbroken, with many feeling the emotional weight of such unexpected tragedy.
The initial investigation is focusing on what caused the blaze and whether working smoke alarms were present. Reports indicate there was no evidence of smoke alarms being functional at the time of the fire. Forensic investigators are combing through the remains of the house, trying to piece together the events leading up to the fire. One avenue of inquiry involves whether overheated e-bike batteries could have been the source of ignition, as similar incidents have been linked to battery malfunctions.
NSW Police are working alongside fire investigators to gather information and witnesses, with plans to prepare a report for the coroner. Dewberry urged the community to regularly check their smoke alarms and not overlook fire safety. “It’s tragic to witness such events, and we must take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of functional smoke alarms,” he said.
The Heckenberg house fire is not isolated; it highlights a growing concern over safety standards related to electronic devices, especially lithium-ion batteries found within e-bikes. Just the day before this incident, another house fire claimed the life of a man due to similar battery-related issues. Local authorities are now under pressure to address these mounting concerns directly impacting community safety.
This devastating incident emphasizes the urgent need for community awareness surrounding fire hazards and the lifesaving importance of smoke alarms. With the frequency of hazardous situations involving electronic devices on the rise, preventative measures are more important than ever.
For now, the focus remains on supporting the bereaved family of Vanessa and her daughter, as well as ensuring healing within the community. “It’s absolutely devastating for everyone involved,” concluded Dewberry, summing up the collective sorrow felt throughout the area.
The tragedy at Heckenberg serves as both a reminder and rallying cry for fire safety efforts, pushing for educational outreach and systematic changes locally and beyond to prevent such heart-wrenching occurrences in the future.