Firefighters from Belmont, Lambton, Charlestown, Merewether, Mayfield West, Swansea and Teralba all assisted paramedics, helping to extricate patients from tough situations.

Firefighters are often called to help at houses and units with narrow or difficult stairways which hinder stretcher access and regularly provide additional manpower to transfer the patient safely to an ambulance.

Rescue crews from Lambton also attended a serious motor vehicle accident at Tomago on Thursday night.

Police had located a vehicle which had left the road and ended up on its roof in waist-deep water and reeds. Firefighters established a stable work platform of planks and plywood allowing better access to the trapped driver.

Paramedics stabilised the patient before firefighters commenced the extrication by removing the side of the vehicle utilising hydraulic cutting tools while a team from the State Emergency Service at Raymond Terrace provided scene lighting. The driver once freed from the wreckage, was conveyed to hospital by ambulance.

Station officer Josh Brander from Lambton Fire Station said it was an excellent combined effort from all emergency services present, in very testing conditions.