As second family escapes cooker poisoning
It was one of several incidents firefighters faced last week, including fires which destroyed a townhouse in Merrylands and a kebab shop in Lidcombe.
TWO families in Merrylands have had lucky escapes after a ferocious blaze in one home and an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in another.
A woman and two young children escaped a large blaze which broke out in their townhouse in Bowden Street just before 7.30pm last Monday.
The townhouse was destroyed by the blaze, which was started by a remote-controlled toy car, connected to a charger.
Houses on either side of the property were also under threat from the large fire, and all residents were quickly evacuated.
The following day, firefighters rushed to a home In Myall Street about 4.45am where they found two children and four adults suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning after a charcoal cooker was bought inside a granny flat to keep a family warm.
Luckily one of the occupants woke up feeling ill and roused the rest of the household from its sleep.
It has prompted a warning from Fire and Rescue NSW to not to bring outdoor cookers and heaters indoors.
FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said: “While we understand the family and their guests were trying to stay warm during winter and thought bringing the makeshift heating device inside was a good idea, it unwittingly put lives at risk.
“In this case, tragedy was narrowly avoided.
“Never bring outdoor heaters or cookers inside and never rely on charcoal beads for heating in confined spaces.”
Firies also extinguished a fire in a kebab shop in Lidcombe last Thursday morning.
They were called to the fire at the John Street shop, just before 6am, with some battling the blaze, while others searched a residence above the business and declared it vacant.
