Tra-gic Discovery After Midnight Blaze: Family of Three Found De-ad Inside Wiley Park Home as Investigators Search for Answers
Three people believed to be a mother, father and son have been killed in a shocking house fire that turned the sky orange as it ripped through a granny flat in southwestern Sydney and threatened a neighbouring unit block on Wednesday night.
Three bodies were found in the wreckage of the granny flat at the rear of the home on Cornelia St, Wiley Park.
Police said a family of three – a 52-year-old man, a 43-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy – lived in the granny flat.
A family has been killed in a devastating house fire. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Fire crews were called to the home about 9.45pm. They were able to extinguish the blaze, but it caused extensive damage to the property.
Investigators are yet to formally identify the three people or determine the fire’s cause.
One resident who lives close to the home said he heard “crackling” about 9.30pm, just before they were about to go to bed.
“We heard some crackling outside and we just thought it was some kids or something playing outside, but we opened the balcony and went out to have a look and the sky was orange,” he said.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
“There was a huge plume of smoke, we could see the roof of the granny flat was on fire and we immediately ran outside to see if we can assist, but the fire had already taken hold and it was a very scary moment.”
The neighbour said at one point the flames were close to a huge tree in the backyard, and he was wondering if it was also going to catch fire.
NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said firefighters encountered a “well developed” blaze as they arrived on scene.
“There were flames coming out of the property at the rear of this block, so (firefighters) then had to make access through the side of the property and through the garden, wich was quite challenging,” he said.
Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said finding the bodies was ‘devastating’ for firefighters. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Mr Fewtrell said a fire in the backyard had to be extinguished before officers could begin putting out the flames coming out of the building.
“In the process of that, very tragically they have located three bodies inside the property … unfortunately the people weren’t able to be successfully rescued,” he said.
“We take this opportunity to remind people of the seriousness of fires at any time, but particularly in the depths of winter. While we’re having these cold spells we do always see these house fires and we remind people of the importance of having working smoke alarms.
“Fire investigators have worked through the night with NSW Police forensics officers to examine the scene and the process of determining the fire cause and origin is still underway.”
