Fire crews were called to 41 Wallis Street Forster shortly after 4am, after being alerted by neighbours who had awoken to the sound of banging and breaking glass next door.

Further investigation revealed the adjoining unit was alight, upon which they broke down the door to reach the elderly man who had collapsed from smoke inhalation inside.

They were able to drag him out onto the balcony of the two-level block and police arrived a short time later to get him down the stairs. Forster’s Fire and Rescue and paramedics arrived at the scene soon after to find the man unconscious on the footpath, at which point he received oxygen therapy and first aid before being transferred to Manning Base Hospital into intensive care.  

Two fire fighters were also injured in the blaze which, though contained to the upper level, had blown out windows with flames licking up the side threatening nearby buildings. 

“Two fire fighters were treated for soft tissue injuries after falling out of one of the windows during a search and rescue operation,” Captain Paul Langley from Forster’s Fire and Rescue confirmed.

“In fires like that it gets very smoky, there’s no vision at all, and going through one of the units looking for people one guy reached out in front of him but found nothing.

"When you’re wearing all the breathing gear you can be very top heavy, and it’s easy to fall over, so he found himself falling forward.  The other fire fighter reached out to grab him and they both fell three metres through the window which had been blown out by the fire,” he said, adding that both fire fighters had recovered.

Captain Langley said that fortunately the fire was reported early enough to be contained to the upper level, near the rear of the eight unit block where it was thought the fire may have begun.

An investigation into the fire is currently underway and its smoke victim is reportedly recovering in hospital and doing well, but his neighbouring tenants remain without access to their homes due to the exposure of burnt asbestos.

The site has been barricaded off and today (Friday May 29) exposed asbestos was being ‘glue sprayed’ by an asbestos crew until a specialised hygienist could sample and check each area.

It is thought residents, including a couple and a young baby, may be out of their homes for up to month. They are currently staying in emergency housing provided by police.