TWO homes in Leeton were gutted by separate fires over the weekend, with one family lucky to escape when a blaze broke out at their property on Thursday night.
Leeton Fire and Rescue NSW was called to the scene on Lillypilly Road about 10.30pm on Thursday night to find the home completely engulfed by flames.
It took some time to extinguish the blaze, with police forensics on site throughout the day on Good Friday investigating the cause.
Leeton Fire and Rescue NSW Captain Graham Parks said the family living in the home were lucky to be alive.
“The family has said they were alerted to the fire by their smoke alarms going off,” Captain Parks said.
“They believe if they didn’t have working smoke alarms they wouldn’t have been aware of the fire because they were all asleep at the time.
“When our crews arrived the home was totally engulfed.
“The family has lost everything.
“They weren’t able to grab anything on their way out.
“It happened so quick.
“When they were out they said three minutes later it really erupted.
“There were no injuries.”
Captain Parks said early investigations revealed the blaze may have started in the garage, which is attached to the home.
In what has been a relatively quiet summer for Leeton Fire and Rescue, Captain Parks and his crew were then called to another house fire about 3am on Easter Monday.
The home, on Errey Road, was also destroyed by the fire.
Captain Parks said the property owner wasn’t home at the time of the blaze.
“We’ve been told the elderly owner went away yesterday (Easter Sunday) to go on a camping holiday with their family,” he said.
“It is lucky again that no one was hurt or injured.
“This home has also been gutted.
“It’s too early to tell with this one what may have caused the fire to start.”
Fire crews were still on site about 9am Monday mopping up the scene.
Investigations into both house fires are continuing.
Captain Parks said it was a timely reminder to all Leeton shire residents that now was the time to make sure smoke alarms were in working order.
“We’ve just seen that they do save lives … it’s important to check them,” he said.
