A woman’s body has been found following a unit fire in Sydney’s north-west.
Firefighters were called to a home on Church St in Ryde just after 10:30am after a “small blaze” had broken out inside a unit on the second floor of a three-storey building.
Crews entered the smoke-filled apartment wearing breathing apparatus to search for occupants when they located the body of the woman.
She was found with severe burns on her body.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze before a crime scene was declared.
The woman is yet to be formally identified.
FRNSW investigators are now working with NSW Police detectives to establish the cause of the fatal fire.
It’s the second fire-related fatality in NSW since winter began just two weeks ago.
Another woman was killed earlier this month in a house fire in the state’s central west, with a man and two children narrowly escaping with their lives.
FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said, as investigations continue, these tragedies serve as a reminder to others about fire safety in the cooler months.
“Winter is usually when our firefighters respond to more house fires and unfortunately more fire-related deaths and injuries,” Supt Dewberry said.
“Having two fire-related deaths just two weeks into winter is devastating and impacts so many people, including the victims’ families and friends, our firefighters and the broader community.”