CFA rescues elderly woman from blaze

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG firefighters heard desperate cries for help before forcing their way into a blazing unit and rescuing an elderly woman on Monday.
The woman in her 70s was trapped in her Cleeland Street unit when Dandenong and Hallam CFA crews arrived at 12.30am to extinguish the fire.
Dandenong CFA fire officer Don Wilkie said firefighters donning breathing apparatus rescued the woman, whose face and upper body was burnt.
“Upon arrival, we heard a person inside calling out,” he said.
“With the fire we made an immediate forceful entry. (The woman) had burns and came out with breathing problems.
“We treated her on scene initially, then an ambulance turned up and transported her to hospital.”
Mr Wilkie said the unit was one of up to 15 on the block and all other residents were evacuated.
He said firefighters contained the blaze before it could spread to neighbouring flats.
“There was a small fire but heavy smoke was contained within the building because it was all sealed up,” Mr Wilkie said.
“We combated the fire and put it out. We rescued the woman in the building.
“It was a good operation by all.”