The death of a five-year-old girl in a Swansea Heads house fire has become a tragic reminder for Hunter residents to check their smoke alarms as new figures reveal a devastating winter for house fires across NSW.
The Swansea Heads tragedy was among 18 deaths in dwelling and structure fires across NSW during the three months of winter, double the number recorded during winter 2025.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the figures were a sobering reminder of the dangers of house fires.
“This has been a devastating winter for our state. Eighteen lives lost is a sobering reminder about the risk of house fires during the colder months,” he said.
Firefighters attended 1,073 residential fire scenes across NSW during winter, with no working smoke alarm found at 461 properties, or 43 per cent of incidents.
Commissioner Fewtrell urged Hunter residents to use the change of season to make sure their homes were protected.
“Smoke alarms provide crucial early warnings and give people the best chance to escape safely in an emergency,” he said.
“But only working alarms can save lives.”
Cooking was responsible for 40 per cent of winter home fires, with residents reminded to remain in the kitchen while cooking and keep flammable items away from heat sources.
Fire and Rescue NSW completed 11,832 home safety visits during winter, with firefighters able to inspect properties, provide safety advice and install smoke alarms free of charge where required.
Residents can book a free home fire safety visit through Fire and Rescue NSW or by contacting their local fire station.
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