A stovetop fire has been determined as the cause of a house fire on Peppercorn Drive in Frenchs Forest last night. The resident, along with their dog, safely evacuated.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews responded to a Triple Zero call reporting a fire at around 6:30pm last night (Wednesday, 6 May 2026).
Six fire trucks and 24 firefighters from Forestville, Willoughby, Manly, Mona Vale and Neutral Bay responded and brought the fire under control within 30 minutes, preventing further damage to the property.
FRNSW said Manly’s ladder platform was deployed to assist firefighting operations.
NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and gas and electrical authorities also attended.
Prior to FRNSW’s arrival, the resident and their pet dog safely self-evacuated. The resident was assessed by paramedics at the scene, with no injuries reported.
Firefighters located a kitchen fire that had spread into the roof cavity and exhaust ducting.
Crews worked quickly to contain the blaze, deploying multiple hose lines and entering the home to attack the fire internally while other crews worked externally to prevent further spread.
Firefighters then conducted extensive overhaul operations, including removing sections of the roof to check for fire spread and ventilating the home to clear smoke.
Atmospheric monitoring conducted by firefighters using gas detectors confirmed the property was safe, with no further fire spread detected.
Gas and electricity supplies were isolated, and the scene was handed back to the resident once it was deemed safe.
FRNSW said they believed the fire started on a stovetop before continuing to the exhaust system.
FRNSW reminded the community to never leave cooking unattended and to keep flammable items well clear of stovetops.
