HOUSE FIRE: A firefighter puts out a fire at a Matata home that started after a burnt log was replaced on to a woodheap on its deck. Photo supplied
A SMOKE alarm saved a family in Matata last Friday after embers from a log set fire to the house.
The Matata Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to the house fire at 3.28am on August 12.
“What appears to have happened was that a log that was too long for the fire place was pulled back from the fire and put outside in the wood pile on the deck,” senior firefighter Mark Hofert said.
“A small ember smouldered for hours and set the pile, deck and house alight.
“Thankfully, as the house filled with smoke, the smoke alarms activated, waking up the family inside.
“They quickly evacuated the house.”
Mr Hofert said when the crew arrived at the house they found plenty of smoke. The home owner had managed to control the fire before things got out of hand.
“We opened up the seat of the fire and worked for another hour to make sure all the embers were out and no further fire risk was present.”
The callout was a reminder that smoke alarms saved lives, Mr Hofert said.