In a remarkable display of teamwork and professionalism, firefighters and nursing staff averted a potential tragedy at an aged care facility in Kiama on May 22. The blaze, which could have resulted in multiple casualties, was contained within 30 minutes, with all 52 residents safely evacuated and no injuries reported.
Rapid Response to Escalating Emergency
Station Commander Darin Sullivan of Fire and Rescue NSW Shellharbour Fire Station has served for 36 years and had only encountered a nursing home fire once before. On the afternoon of May 22, he faced his second such incident, one that threatened dozens of lives. The initial call came as an automatic fire alarm from Blue Haven Bonaira in Kiama, a routine occurrence for the station. However, when facility staff called triple zero, the response was dramatically escalated. A standard two-truck response was doubled to four trucks, supplemented by a Hazmat unit, a duty commander, and a ladder truck. Police and paramedics also rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a ground floor independent living unit engulfed in flames, with a mattress and much of the bedroom destroyed. The resident had fled just moments before the fire took hold, leaving the entire ground floor heavily smoke-logged.
Potential for Disaster Averted
"It was clear to me that this could have potentially been quite disastrous," Mr Sullivan said. "We had real potential to have numerous elderly persons trapped. It could have potentially been a mass casualty incident." Despite the gravity of the situation, panic never set in. Mr Sullivan and his crew remained calm, relying on their training and muscle memory. Nursing staff also acted swiftly, executing an emergency evacuation of all 52 residents. In the end, every person was accounted for, and no injuries were reported.
Seamless Teamwork Key to Success
Between the heroic efforts of emergency responders and nursing staff, the blaze was contained in just 30 minutes. "It's a bit of a unicorn. A fire in a nursing home like that is pretty rare ... they don't happen very often," Mr Sullivan said. He attributed the flawless outcome to the seamless teamwork between his crews and the facility's staff, along with the automatic system in place. "Shoutout to the Kiama Fire and Rescue crew who did a great job, along with my crew and all Fire Rescue FFs who attended," Mr Sullivan said. "Special mention to the Blue Haven staff, who did an amazing job with evacuation and monitoring. They were of great assistance to me and my teams."
The incident highlights the critical importance of rapid response, effective communication, and coordinated action in preventing loss of life. The community can be grateful for the dedication and professionalism of all involved.
