Worrigee residents evacuate as ‘toxic’ shed fire destroys cars

Residents in two homes nearby were in serious danger according to firefighters when the shed caught alight at around 11.50am.

A NSW Fire and Rescue Shoalhaven truck arrived within minutes and local residents helped the fire crew manage the blaze.

“It was quite intense, there were two cars in the shed, they were fully involved,” Shoalhaven station officer Mark Kroon said.

“That house there (on Royal Street) was in quite severe danger.”

A resident in the Basil Street home had self-evacuated, and a resident in a Royal Street home backing onto the shed had self-evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Neighbours rushed on scene, evacuating pets, including a number of birds, and attempting to protect surrounding homes.

“They (neighbours) did quite a good job initially,” officer Kroon said.

"They’re all fine, but with car fires, the smoke is very toxic, that’s why we wear breathing apparatus.

“Residents, even though they want to protect their property, have to be very careful not to breathe that smoke in. They’ve all been assessed by ambulance (paramedics), they’re all okay.”

When they first arrived firefighters were unable to determine whether the shed had power, and whether the power was on or not.

“When you put water on that steel structure, there’s always a risk of the electricity travelling across the hose stream, that’s why initially we had to keep back while we confirmed the power had been isolated,” officer Kroon said.

The Shoalhaven crew was joined by the Nowra brigade and NSW Rural Fire Service crews from Culburra, Greenwell Point and West Nowra helped the Shoalhaven crew contain the blaze.

NSW Police had a strong presence on scene investigating the cause of the fire.

A South Coast Police District spokesman confirmed they are not treating the fire as suspicious.

It is understood there was an electrical fault in the shed before the fire.

A Royal Street resident, one of the first people on scene, smelt the fumes from his house and jumped on his push-bike to investigate and assist.

“It’s good to see the community comes out and helps,” the resident said.

“There were people everywhere, there weren’t enough hoses. If it wasn’t for people on the hoses that house there (next door to the shed on fire) would have been burnt.

“It was a good outcome. It’s sad to see old mate lose his cars, but it could have been much worse.”