Four house fires in four weeks prompts warning

CFA alongside FRV attended house fires in East Doncaster, Park Orchards, North Warrandyte and Warrandyte over the last month. 

CFA responded to a two-storey brick house fire in East Doncaster on 10 March. Around half of the home was damaged. 

Just over a week later, on 19 March, CFA supported FRV crews at a two-storey house fire in Park Orchards.    

On 30 March, CFA was then called to a house fire in North Warrandyte. Around 35 per cent of the house was destroyed.  

Most recently, on 5 April CFA responded to a house fire in Warrandyte which destroyed the single storey brick home.  

Warrandyte Captain Will Hodgson said it was rare to have significant fires in separate incidents over a short period of time. 

“My first message to the community is make sure you have a working smoke alarm and home fire plan, secondly, we need to be safe when lighting fires indoors, like fireplaces,” he said. 

“Never use accelerants on an open fire, it can cause significant injury or worse. 

“With the way we live today, we need to charge things, mobile phones, computers, tools. Be aware of where they are, and it’s a good idea to have them switched off when not at home.” 

Thankfully, all occupants of the homes evacuated safety.