A toddler has been hailed a hero after alerting his parents to a fierce blaze that tore through their home in Mount Barker, about 30 minutes southeast of Adelaide.
How the fire started
The little boy was playing in his bedroom when it is believed a power point burst into flames. He immediately ran to tell his parents something was wrong, allowing the family to escape before the fire took hold of their property.
Rapid response
Flames leapt from the toddler's window as a water tank driver, who happened to be passing by at the right time, fought the fire. Metropolitan Fire Service spokesperson Tom Loftus said: "The occupants, I believe, suffered no burns but smoke inhalation and they've been transported to hospital."
A neighbour working from home was alerted to the emergency by the sound of glass smashing. Tanya Davies said: "I saw the flames right there, so that's when I rushed outside and it was chaos."
Investigation and praise
Investigators examined the gutted home and took the power point from the boy's room away, saying an electrical fault is likely to blame. They praised the quick actions of the child for raising the alarm and the water tanker driver for his work. Loftus added: "He was driving past and noticed it and put his water boom out to protect the house next door."
Davies said: "It's very scary to feel — it happened so quick." The couple's second child was at school when the fire broke out. Neighbours are already thinking of ways to help the family who have now lost so much. "We were all very heartbroken for them and we've already told them that we'll do whatever we can to help them through this," Davies said.
