Smoke detectors save family from house fire
Fire investigators attend the scene of a house fire in Kangaroo Flat. They said the fire was evidence of the value of smoke detectors. The young family that resided in this property escaped with their lives after being awoken by their smoke detector.
Fire destroyed the lounge and kitchen of the house. The rest of the dwelling was damaged by smoke and heat.
Fire shot through the roof of the house after starting in the lounge room. Fire investigators have warned people to beware of drying their clothes in front of fireplaces and radiant heaters during the warmer months, urging them to keep clothes horses at a distance.
UPDATED: Firefighters have reminded people to check their smoke detectors after a young family in Kangaroo Flat was saved by theirs.
Country Fire Authority operations officer Craig Brittain said the occupants of a house in Longmore Street were woken up by a smoke detector about 12.45am.
The father of the young family went to investigate and found the lounge room alight.
Mr Brittain said the family fled out the back door as flames engulfed the kitchen and lounge room.
“They were very lucky,” he said.
Fire investigators believe the blaze started because a clothes horse was too close to the fireplace.
Mr Brittain reminded people never to place clothes horses too close to fireplaces or radiant heaters.
“If they are going to light fireplaces, make sure they are clean and have fire guards,” he said.
The kitchen and lounge area was destroyed by fire, and Mr Brittain said the rest of the house sustained substantial smoke and heat damage.
He estimated the damage would amount to about $350,000.
Neighbour Jason Taylor saw the whole thing unfold and called firefighters.
He was up playing games, heard the spark going off and saw flames.
“It was like firecrackers going off,” Mr Taylor said.
“Thank God the people got out safe.”
He said the blaze was “pretty intense” and “scary”, particularly when a power line fell, sparking all over the road.
“We were lucky the firies turned up when they did,” Mr Taylor said.
“The whole street went black because of the smoke.”
At one point it seemed the fire at been extinguished, only to reignite.
“It was something you would see in a movie,” Mr Taylor said.
Next-door neighbour Brenda Alexander said she knew the family well.
They had been living next door to her for about three or four years, and she was fond of them.
Mrs Alexander said the family once joked they would be living next door to her for a while because they were renovating their property.
“It is just so sad that things like that happen,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said the mother of the young family was a nurse, the father was home because of an injury he sustained during an accident, and the couple had two children – a daughter, aged about seven years, and a son aged about three.
She said the daughter was “the dearest little girl” and frequently visited to chat.
“I got a shock when I woke up because I knew there was something going on but I had no idea it was a fire until I went to get the paper this morning,” Mrs Alexander said.
The octogenarian was reluctant to open her door and investigate during the night, and was glad for it in the morning.
“I probably would have had a heart attack,” she said.
Firefighters contained the blaze to the affected house, which prevented Mrs Alexander’s property from sustaining any damage.
“It’s just a terrible shock,” she said.
Firefighters said the young family was being cared for by loved ones.
EARLIER: Police are investigating after a house fire in Kangaroo Flat this morning.
Country Fire Authority crews were called to the Longmore Street property about 12.45am and found the house well alight.
The fire was contained to the front of the house and took crews 45 minutes to bring under control.
Four people were inside the house at the time of the fire and were evacuated without injury.
The fire caused extensive damage to the house.