A man has died following a fierce blaze that ripped through a suburban unit south of Sydney on Monday morning, with authorities now treating the fire as suspicious.
Off-Duty Firefighter's Brave Attempt
The fire erupted at a single-level unit on Kelly Street in Berkeley, a southern suburb of Wollongong, around 9.25am. According to reports from ABC News Illawarra, an off-duty firefighter walking with his wife spotted the flames and immediately sprang into action. In a brave attempt to reach anyone inside, he kicked in the unit's door.
However, the intensity of the fire was too great, preventing him from entering the burning building. He promptly alerted emergency services, bringing professional crews to the scene.
Body Discovered After Blaze Extinguished
Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended and managed to extinguish the flames. While the fire caused only minor structural damage to the unit, the aftermath revealed a tragedy.
NSW Ambulance paramedics discovered the body of a man inside. Police believe the man was aged in his 40s, though he has not yet been formally identified. No other injuries were reported, and adjoining units were not affected by the fire.
Police Launch Suspicious Blaze Investigation
New South Wales Police have confirmed the cause of the fire is not yet known and are treating the incident as suspicious. “Investigations have commenced into the circumstances of the fire,” a police statement said.
Authorities are now appealing to the public for assistance. They are urging anyone in the area with relevant CCTV footage or any information that could aid the investigation to contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately.
The community of Berkeley and the wider Illawarra region are awaiting further details as investigators work to determine the exact events that led to this fatal fire.
