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
