A woman has died following a house fire in the state's north last night.
About 6.30pm yesterday (Wednesday August 17), emergency services were called to a home on Dudley Drive, Goonellabah, following reports of a house fire.
Officers attached to Richmond Police District attended, along with Fire and Rescue NSW, and found a house well alight.
Fire crews extinguished the blaze before emergency crews located the body of a woman inside; she is yet to be formally identified.
Officers attached to Richmond Police District have established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fatal house fire last night at Goonellabah in the state's northern rivers district.
Nine fire trucks, from Goonellabah, Lismore, Alstonville and Coraki fire stations arrived at the Dudley Drive address just after 6.30pm and found the home fully involved in fire.
Flames, heavy smoke and a collapsing roof initially prevented firefighters from entering the house.
As soon as crews gained control of the blaze, firefighters forced their way inside and located the body of a woman.
Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) experts are working at the scene of the blaze today, trying to confirm how the fire started.
They will also try to determine whether a smoke alarm, possibly compromised by the roof collapse, activated during the fire.
The number of people killed in residential fires in NSW this winter now stands at 15 from 12 incidents, 11 more fatalities than the total for winter last year.
FRNSW is reminding the public to check on friends, relatives and neighbours living alone to ensure their smoke alarms are in working order.Working smoke alarms save lives.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
