Hero fire call saves Cowes homes and lives

A SERIES of screeching fire alarms split the peace in Cowes just before 12 midnight on Sunday night this week as firefighters rushed to Charissa Close in the west of town.

By the time they arrived a garage was well alight and threatening to engulf the house next door and the one on the property before crews doused the persistent flames.

No one was injured although Ambulance Victoria attended as a precaution for a neighbour who uses oxygen.

But it might not have been that way except for the quick thinking of a nightowl resident further up the street.

“I was up on the second floor of our house brushing my teeth when I looked out the window and saw this wisp of flame coming up. But by the time I called my husband to look flames were up above the house and we called triple zero,” said the hero of the day.

“I was amazed no one had called it in but maybe it was because I was looking over it from our second floor.

“Apparently they were in bed. They didn’t know it was alight.”

Although both of the houses under threat were saved apparently without major damage, the large garage/shed was lost reportedly with car, mobile home and other goods including a model plane collection.

The cause of the fire is not suspicious.

All Cowes Fire Brigade appliances attended.

Breathing apparatus was used and firefighters used cutting equipment to get through roller doors in order to douse the flames.