TWO Flagstone residents will be forced to sleep in their shed after a devastating fire which destroyed their kitchen.
Four QFES crews and emergency services were called to a Pastoral Court home on Wednesday night after a resident walking a dog at 8pm noticed flames from the roof of the brick veneer house.
Home owner Asta Hartley said the fire caused extensive smoke damage to her residence, making it uninhabitable.
“All the smoke detectors were going and tripped the circuits. There were no explosions but flames did go through the roof,” she said.
“My husband Craig stayed in the shed and I stayed across the road,” she said.
“We are hoping to get an electrician to come because the shed is on a different circuit, hopefully we can get power to the shed and stay down there.”
It is too early to tell when the couple will be able to return to their home as it awaits insurance assessment and repair.
Luckily, there were no injuries caused as a result of the fire with all the family pets accounted for and only a few crystal glasses of sentimental value and cook books destroyed by the flames.
“I want to thank the fire crews because they found my bird, a quaker parrot and the dogs were outside and they were freaked out but fine,” Ms Hartley said.
The fire happened shortly after the couple left their home, despite the slow cooker which firefighters thought had caused the blaze being switched off.
“It was just a freak accident, my husband turned off the power where the slow cooker was and that was where heat was...it could have been because the element was still too hot,” she said.
QFES area commander Robert Bloss said he could not comment on the Flagstone fire but said residents had to limit the risk of accidental fire.
“Every year, firefighters attend structure fires caused by faulty or poorly maintained electrical equipment and incidents where flammable materials were placed too close to curtains, bedding or appliances,” he said.
“In the kitchen, always keep an eye on your cooking and never leave it unattended. You should also keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket near the exit.
“You also need to be aware of hazards that can spark fire at any time like overheated battery chargers and power points, which are another common cause of house fires.”
Residents also should check appliances for fraying, exposed cords or rust, only use fuses of recommended rating and install an electrical safety switch.
Ms Hartley thanked her neighbors and emergency services for being alert and quick to help in her time of need.
“We know quite a few neighbors in the area and they have all been really good. I also want to thank the person who was walking the dog because if it wasn’t for them it would have been a worse situation,” she said.
“The Logan Fire Support Network has also been amazing.”
If a house fire breaks out it is critical to leave immediately and call 000.