Working smoke alarm saves Bellarine resident

A BELLARINE man had a lucky escape when his home was engulfed by flames in Curlewis last month.

A working smoke alarm saved the man’s life after it alerted him to the fire in the early hours of the morning, giving him time to escape through the front door.

Flames took hold of the property’s rear deck, second storey and roof space, with the rear of the home fully alight when crews arrived.

Drysdale Fire Brigade captain Brendan Macdonald said the resident was only able to escape because of the working smoke alarm.

“When we arrived, the whole rear of the home was alight. The resident’s bedroom was on the upper level, directly above the fire.

“The fire was silent, and by the time he woke up the house was already full of smoke.”

The fire started after embers from a fire pit ignited the decking and although the occupant thought the fire was out, a breeze reignited it.

“It’s a stark reminder to fully extinguish any fire pit or campfire with water, never just leave it to burn down. Coals can stay hot for hours,” Mr Macdonald said.

Quick action from crews and access to hydrants stopped the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

Mr Macdonald said the incident serves as a reminder that simple safety steps can save lives.

“Thankfully, in this instance the occupant escaped with the most important thing, his life.

“But it shows how vital it is to have a working smoke alarm.

“Smoke alarms save lives.”

It is law that smoke alarms must be installed in all homes, units, flats and townhouses and the responsibility of all landlords and owners to install working smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and replaced every 10 years, with replacement batteries needing to be changed yearly.

For more information and tips, head to cfa.vic.gov.au