General News
7 June, 2024
House fire 'as close as it comes'
Warracknabeal CFA rushed to control the fire which destroyed a house in Coral Ave earlier this month
An elderly woman is lucky to be alive after fire gutted her Coral Avenue home.
Neighbours rushed to her aid when they saw flames pouring out of the front room and roof.
Warracknabeal Fire Brigade captain Cameron Whelan said three fire units attended the fire, which took about half an hour to bring under control.
District 17 Commander Lindsay Barry said the woman's rescue was “as close as it comes”.
It was understood there were no smoke detectors in the mid-1950s weatherboard home.
“Once again, this situation proves the value of working smoke detectors, which would have alerted the occupant to the fire much earlier," Commander Barry said.
The woman, thought to be in her seventies, was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire, which took hold about 5.40am on Friday May 24, was not immediately known owing to the extent of the damage.