House fire death prompts winter fire safety warning
CFA firefighters are urging the community to be fire safe this winter following a spate of serious house fires over the weekend.
State Duty Officer Stephen Walls said that having a working smoke alarm and reducing fire hazards inside the home were simple ways to avoid a tragic incident.
"Over the weekend, firefighters responded to a tragic house fire in Crossley where one man died," he said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
"Our career and volunteer firefighters are dedicated to keeping the community safe.
"Generally, house fires are easy to avoid; have a working smoke alarm, never leave your cooking unattended and use your heater correctly."
Two house fires in Healesville and Wunghu near Shepparton last night reinforced the importance of working smoke alarms and fire safety.
Firefighters in Wunghu were called to a house fire, where a working smoke alarm alerted the occupants to the fire and they were able to escape unharmed.
"The fire started after clothes were left too close to a heater and caught fire," he said.
"When firefighters arrived on scene the house was fully alight but fortunately the occupants were already out of the house. However, they've still lost their entire home and most of their possessions."
In a similar incident in Healesville, three people including a young boy were taken to hospital after an electrical appliance sparked a fire that engulfed the laundry and one of the bedrooms.
"The smoke alarm alerted the family to the fire and they were able to escape before the fire took hold," said Mr Walls.
"If there hadn't been a working smoke alarm, all three lives could have been lost."
For more information on home fire safety, visit www.homefiresafety.com.au or www.cfa.vic.gov.au