Smoke starts house fire

By Sarah Schwager
A FIRE started by a smouldering cigarette on Saturday has reduced most of a two-storey house in Warneet to ashes.
The house on Rutherford Parade was severely damaged when a cigarette butt, which had not been properly extinguished, set the house alight.
CFA duty officer Trevor Owens said the owner was in Queensland with his family when the incident happened.
Apparently someone was staying at the house at the time. The back of the house was affected by fire, while the front half was severely smoke and water damaged.
According to the CFA, the house’s high ceilings allowed the fire to spread quickly through the house.
Forty firefighters from Cranbourne, Devon Meadows, Frankston, Narre Warren, Pearcedale and Tooradin fire brigades attended the fire after receiving the call at 12.25pm.
It took them about an hour to get the fire under control, but they were able to keep the blaze to the rear of the house.
The carport was completely burnt out.
Cost of the damage to the house was estimated at $400,000.
It is not clear if the house will be able to be restored.