Elderly Man Rescued From House Fire In Collaroy Plateau

An elderly man was rescued from an upper level of a burning home in Collaroy Plateau after a fire broke out at a residential property on Duncan Crescent.



Early Morning Fire Sparks Emergency Response In Collaroy Plateau

Emergency services responded to reports of a house fire just after 6.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, at a two-storey property on Duncan Crescent in Collaroy Plateau.

Firefighters arrived to find flames affecting the lower level of the home, with the resident located upstairs and unable to exit safely due to fire conditions below. Additional crews were called as firefighters worked to access the property and contain the blaze.

elderly man rescued
Photo Credit: Pexels

Upper-Level Rescue Brings Resident To Safety

Crews used a ladder to reach the elderly man from an upper-floor window and assisted him safely down from the second storey. He was handed over to paramedics at the scene for assessment.

The man was treated for smoke inhalation and transported to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition for further observation.

Fire Damage Concentrated On Lower Level

Firefighters entered the home wearing breathing apparatus to control the fire and conduct a full search of the property. No other occupants were found inside.

The lower level of the house sustained significant fire damage, while the upper level was impacted by smoke and heat. The blaze was extinguished shortly after 7.00 a.m., with crews remaining on site to clear smoke and check for any spread within wall and ceiling cavities.

The structure remained intact from the exterior, and the fire did not extend to neighbouring properties or nearby bushland. Power to the property was disconnected as a precaution during operations.

Collaroy Plateau fire
Photo Credit: Pexels

Cause Under Investigation As Safety Reminder Issued

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed and remains under investigation by specialist units.

Fire authorities also confirmed that the home did not have working smoke alarms. The incident has prompted renewed reminders about the importance of maintaining operational smoke alarms, which provide early warning and increase the likelihood of safe evacuation.

What This Collaroy Plateau Fire Means For Household Safety



Emergency crews contained the fire to the property and safely rescued the resident, while investigations continue into how the incident began. Authorities continue to stress the importance of basic fire safety measures in homes across Collaroy Plateau.

Published 26-Mar-2026

Teenager Fights Flames at Collaroy Plateau With Garden Hose

A quick-thinking teenager grabbed a garden hose to fight flames erupting from a neighbour’s backyard shed at Collaroy Plateau this morning.



Emergency services were called to Fuller Street just before 11:15am on Monday following reports of thick smoke billowing from behind a two-storey timber-clad residence.

Ryan Barnes, 18, was alerted to the blaze after hearing unusual popping sounds from the neighbouring property. After he and his parents detected smoke, they discovered flames already emerging from the shed structure.

Mr Barnes’ father, Greg, passed a hose over the fence, allowing his son to attempt to control the fire before emergency crews arrived. However, the intense heat eventually forced the teenager to retreat to safety.

Several residents contacted Triple Zero, with Greg Barnes reporting that sirens were audible before he had even finished his emergency call. Despite the early intervention with the garden hose, the fire rapidly intensified and spread to nearby fencing and a tree.

Firefighting crews from Narrabeen and Dee Why stations reached the scene shortly after 11:15am. They connected hose lines to a street hydrant positioned directly in front of the affected property and deployed breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.

The two crews used a substantial water volume to halt the fire’s progression, successfully extinguishing it by 11:45am. Fuller Street remained closed to traffic between Acacia Street and Grevillea Street during the emergency response.

The timber shed suffered complete destruction, though firefighters managed to limit additional damage to surrounding fences and minor heat damage to the main residence. No injuries occurred during the incident.



The property’s occupants were away when the fire started and returned to speak with firefighters about the incident. According to Fire and Rescue NSW Narrabeen Station Officer Scott Bennett, the shed’s complete destruction has complicated efforts to determine what sparked the blaze, with the cause remaining unknown at this time.

Published 2-February-2026