Emma Pritchard

A property on Palmers Island has been destroyed by fire.

Shortly after 4:30am on June 7, crews from Maclean Fire and Rescue 372 Station and Yamba Fire and Rescue 510 Station, responded to reports of a house fire on Southbank Road.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) units from Woombah, Gulmarrad and Brooms Head, NSW Ambulance paramedics, officers from Iluka Police Station, and Essential Energy personnel also attended the scene.

Upon arrival, Maclean Fire and Rescue 372 Station Deputy Captain Alwyn Eagleton said the house was well alight, and crews worked quickly to establish if the property was occupied or not prior to setting up a defensive operation around the perimeter to prevent the blaze from spreading.

Deputy Captain Eagleton confirmed the property was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and emergency services were able to bring the blaze under control within an hour of arriving at the scene.

No other properties were threatened by the fire, and Deputy Captain Eagleton revealed the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

As temperatures continue to plummet across the Clarence Valley, Deputy Captain Eagleton is urging residents to remain cautious and stay alert when using electrical appliances including heaters to stay warm during winter.

“One of the biggest things we tell people is to keep everything a metre from the heater,” he said.

“Make sure everything remains a safe distance from heating devices, and always check to make sure smoke alarms are working properly.”