The bedroom from which an elderly Springvale lady narrowly escaped when fire sparked by an old heater set the room alight.AN elderly Springvale woman narrowly escaped death last Sunday when her bedroom went up in flames this week.
Firefighters have praised the woman’s smoke alarm, which awoke her and alerted her to the fire in her Treesbank Avenue home, believed to be sparked by an old electric bar heater.
The fire started about 8.50am on Sunday and eventually destroyed the lady’s bedroom, the charred remains a reminder of the tragedy that could have been.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) photographer Keith Pakenham said the house was heavily damaged, but the lady escaped suffering only smoke inhalation and shock after her smoke alarm alerted her to the fire.
“Firefighters lifted the tin roofing panels to ensure the fire had not spread through the roof beams,” he said.
“The weatherboard house was extensively damaged and most rooms suffered smoke and water damage.
“Ambulance officers treated the woman for smoke inhalation and shock onscene.”
Springvale and Noble Park CFA units attended, along with paramedics.
