Man’s death in Broken Hill housefire prompts smoke detector warning

A man in his 70s has died in a house fire in Broken Hill, triggering renewed calls for people to make sure they have working smoke detectors.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze in the single-storey home on Argent Street at around 1am on Monday after neighbours reported seeing flames.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales Duty Commander Inspector Matt Hunter said three appliances and 12 firefighters attended the incident, with assistance from the Rural Fire Service, police and paramedics.

“On arrival, the crews were confronted with a really well-developed fire [that] was threatening the buildings surrounding it,” Inspector Hunter said.

“[They] stopped the fire from spreading any further [but] due to the intensity of the blaze it took about two hours to bring under control.”

The severity also hindered crews from immediately entering the building already ablaze, despite reports on arrival that someone may still be inside.

Upon gaining access shortly after 3am, they found the body of a man. He is yet to be formally identified but is aged in his 70s and believed to be the occupant.

Police and Fire and Rescue crews remained on the scene, with a special investigation into the fire now underway.

NSW Police say the cause is yet to be determined, but officers have been told it may have started in the fireplace.

Initial investigations also indicate the home did not appear to have smoke detectors fitted.

“Unfortunately, in this instance, the person has passed away [so] it is a reminder to ensure residents do have working smoke alarms,” Inspector Hunter said.

The tragedy comes only days after an aged care home in Broken Hill was evacuated after an electrical fault in a fish tank sparked a fire in one of its wings.

Staff, who regularly undertake fire-safety training, were quick to take action and prevented the blaze from spreading further.

While some employees received precautionary care for smoke inhalation, firefighters say their professional handling of the situation was vital in keeping the residents safe.