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.<\/p>\n
Three bodies were found in the wreckage of the granny flat at the rear of the home on Cornelia St, Wiley Park.<\/p>\n
Police said a family of three \u2013 a 52-year-old man, a 43-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy \u2013 lived in the granny flat.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
Investigators are yet to formally identify the three people or determine the fire\u2019s cause.<\/p>\n
One resident who lives close to the home said he heard \u201ccrackling\u201d about 9.30pm, just before they were about to go to bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said firefighters encountered a \u201cwell developed\u201d blaze as they arrived on scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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, which was quite challenging,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A neighbour named Doreen said her husband helped evacuate an elderly woman living in the home at the front of the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband ran out and started banging on the door to get the old lady out and called out to the family living out the back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got her out, but the fire was too far gone to even get anywhere near the back house. My husband tried but it was too far gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very tragic. Very sad. They were nice people.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the process of that, very tragically they have located three bodies inside the property \u2026 unfortunately the people weren\u2019t able to be successfully rescued,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take this opportunity to remind people of the seriousness of fires at any time, but particularly in the depths of winter. While we\u2019re having these cold spells we do always see these house fires and we remind people of the importance of having working smoke alarms.<\/p>\n
\u201cFire 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campsie Police Area commander Sheridan Waldau said the granny flat had been \u201cfully engulfed in flames\u201d when police arrived on scene shortly after the first fire crews.<\/p>\n
\u201cCampsie police assisted with the evacuation of a neighbouring premises, and once the fire was extinguished, the search of the premises located the bodies of three persons inside. They are yet to be formally identified,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCampsie detectives are working alongside state crime arson squad and fire investigators to assist in establishing the circumstances around the fire \u2026 we know that a family resides within the granny flat. We\u2019re working with extended family members at the moment to try and establish identification.\u201d<\/p>\n