Ten Minutes from Major Fire

CAPTAIN Mark Frost from Scone Fire and Rescue said another ten minutes and there would have been a major house fire in Hill Street this morning.

The fire began to spread into the roof from this fireplace flue.

“Sap can accumulate in the flu and can close it off and then the heat radiates out into the roof,” said Captain Frost.

“It was already above the lounge room, so another ten minutes and there would have been a major house fire,” he said.

At approximately 10:45am, Mrs Betty Murray, the 84 year old resident of the house said she had just sat down, when she noticed embers from the ceiling near the flu.

“I’d just finished making my bed and sat down when I saw it,” said Mrs Murray.

“There were embers coming down from the roof so I called the fire brigade and they told me to get out of the house,” she said.

“I grabbed my handbag and keys and then everyone arrived,” she said.

“It felt like it took a long time for them to get there, but it’s like that in an emergency and I heard them coming so I knew they were on their way.

“It was a bit exciting, but not the kind of excitement you want,” she said.

“It will be tomorrow that I will probably worry after I’ve had the time to think about it,” Betty Murray said.

Fire and Rescue examine the house which narrowly missed a major fire developing.

There was no smoke in the house, so smoke alarms were not activated and the fire had been used throughout the winter season without incident.

Captain Frost advises all residents should only use well seasoned firewood, which has been dried for at least 12 months.

“It takes along time for firewood to dry out properly and if you don’t dry it out properly the sap that is still in the wood is what accumulates around the flu and can close it off; so it’s important to use well seasoned timber,” said Captain Frost.

“Also clean the flu at the beginning of the season, it’s not like the old chimney sweeper days, you can buy products from the hardware store that are easy to use,” Mark Frost said.

Scone and Aberdeen Fire and Rescue crews attended, with ambulance and police.

Related story: Hill Street House Fire.