Wetherill Park house fire: Sydney grandparents Sonia and Orosil Airspe tried to escape deadly blaze

Two beloved grandparents who died in a house fire tried to flee the blaze, but were trapped, according to authorities.

Sonia and Orosil Airspe, aged 75 and 81, were unable to escape when their home in Lily Street, Wetherill Park, southwest Sydney caught fire at 6am on Wednesday.

Neighbors noticed smoke coming from the two-story home and called emergency services at 6:45 a.m.

Then two brave neighbors launched a rescue mission to try and save the grandparents, but they couldn’t open the shutters on the upstairs windows.

The two men had smoke inhalation in their desperate attempt, one of them was taken to hospital.

The house is believed to have been locked from the inside to prevent the grandfather, who is believed to be suffering from dementia, from wandering

The two victims of the Wetherill Park fire were grandparents Sonia and Orosil Airspe, who had lived in the house for decades

Firefighters eventually forced entry into the house, which burned for nearly three hours, and located their bodies.

“The firefighters carried the woman out and performed CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, but the pair were pronounced dead at the scene,” a statement from Fire and Rescue NSW said.

“Firefighters continued to attack the flames and extinguished the blaze at around 9:30am.”

FRNSW used 24 firefighters and six fire trucks to put out the fire at the home on Lily Road.

FRNSW Deputy Commissioner Megan Stiffler told 7News it appeared that the grandparents were “trying to leave” based on evidence recovered inside.

She added that tight security made it difficult for firefighters to enter the home.

It is clear that Mr Airspe suffered from dementia and that many of the house’s possible exits were locked from the inside to prevent him from leaving unnoticed and getting lost.

Neighbors said the elderly couple were popular and often entertained their grandchildren at home.

Ms Stiffler said it is essential for households to check that their smoke detectors are working, but also talk to their relatives about their plans in the event of a house fire.

“If you have older relatives — please sit down, have the discussion, talk about where their escape plan is,” she said.

Ms Stiffler said the fatalities are “a tragic reminder” of how dangerous homes can become in winter.

Fire and Rescue NSW took almost three hours and used 24 firefighters and six fire trucks to put out the blaze at the house on Lily Road

Sonia Airspe (pictured), who died in the house fire aged 75, is said to have tried to keep the house safe so her husband didn’t run away and get lost

Neighbors said the elderly couple were popular and often entertained their grandchildren at home. In the photo Orosil Airspe, who died at the age of 81

Six people have been killed in NSW house fires so far this winter, one more than at the same time in 2022.

Last year a record 16 people died in house fires in NSW in the winter.

Fire and Rescue NSW warned householders to keep all materials at least three feet away from a heater, make sure electric blankets don’t get damaged and make sure smoke alarms are connected and working properly.

Experts from the FRNSW’s Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) are now working with NSW Police to determine where and how the fire started.