Friday, 8.30am:
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
The main street is slowly returning to normal after a fire at Adrenalin Takeaway about 5am this morning.
Unfortunately, the mop up for Adrenalin Takeaway owners Christie-Leigh Toone and Toby O'Brien will take much longer.
While investigations are continuing, it is believed the fire started at the rear of the High Street business.
Above the popular business are two residential units, where a couple and a single mother with three small children live.
The quick response from Wauchope Fire and Rescue ensured damage was contained to the business and did not reach the two families sleeping above.
Thankfully, no-one was injured.
"I commend everyone here this morning on their quick response and professionalism," he said.
"The actions of local bakers, working smoke alarms and multiple '000' calls definitely saved the five people above the fire and limited damage to the property."
A shaken Mr O'Brien was quick to thank Lewis' Butchery's Allan Lewis and bakers from both Colonial Bakehouse and Wauchope Baker, who raised the alarm and were first at the site.
An unlikely hero also emerged in martial arts trainer Travis Downes, who barged into the units above to rescue the five occupants.
Wauchope Bakery's Daniel Manwarring told the Gazette how he and workmate Matt Myer and Cameron Raper ran into the main street after seeing flames coming from the roof of the building and "bashed on the front door, but then ran around the back because we knew there were kids living upstairs".
Mr Downes joined them and bravely swept through the units, which were filled with thick black smoke, to carry the sleeping residents to safety.
"I didn't care, adrenalin just kicked in," he told the Gazette at 6am.
"One of the little girls actually ran into my leg it was that dark.
"I can still taste the smoke now."
Mr Manwarring said they "ran from room to room, but it was so dark".
The mother and her three young children, including a small baby, were kept safe and warm at the bakery while emergency services worked in the main street.
She was unaware of the extent of any damage to her home.
Butcher Allan Lewis said he could smell smoke from his Hastings Street business about 5am and when he looked outside could see flames billowing out the takeaway business' exhaust fan.
"I saw the bakers running around to the shop so I just grabbed a hose and started hosing the exhaust fan at the back of the shop.
"I did the best I could with a garden hose until the firies arrived," he said.
Friday, 8am: The quick actions of a butcher, three bakers and a martial arts trainer in the early hours of Friday morning are being praised for saving the lives of five people, including a small baby, who were trapped above a burning takeaway business.
Wauchope Fire Captain Rob Pursehouse said their actions, coupled with a working smoke alarm and multiple '000' calls most definitely saved the two families' lives and contained damaged to the downstairs section of the burning building.
The fire is believed to have started at the rear of Adrenalin Takeaway about 5am.
NSW Police and Fire and Rescue are continuing investigations.
