By Brendan Rees
A quick-thinking neighbour who heard a smoke detector going off has saved a home in Cranbourne from potentially going up in flames.
Firefighters were called to the Lorna Street unit about 2.20pm after a neighbour called triple-zero.
“We made forcible entry to find a pot on the stove that was still alight with no occupants home,” said Cranbourne CFA Senior Station Officer Ian Glass.
He said it was “extremely lucky” a neighbour had heard a smoke detector operating and called the fire brigade on Wednesday 1 August.
“That just proves that smoke detectors work and lucky they had good neighbours otherwise they would have lost the house.”
Mr Glass said the neighbour believed the smoke detector had been operating for 20 minutes.
“Probably within half-an-hour it was possible a fire could have gone up through the range hood and into the wall cavity.
Mr Glass advised people to check their cooking appliances before leaving home.
