[First filed: Dec 21, 2010 @ 10:02]
This in from the ESA:
4.25am Tuesday 21 December 2010 – House destroyed by fire at Stirling ACT Fire Brigade on scene of a house fire at McKail Cres, Stirling.
Fire is extinguished and crews are currently mopping up.
Two level house with garage has been totally destroyed with an estimated $500,000 damage.
Fire appears to have started downstairs and moved through the floor to the upper levels.
18 firefighters on scene with four pumpers, two command officers and the Breathing Appartus van.
All six occupants of the house safely self evacuated upon hearing a working smoke alarm. Three generations of a family at home, including two grandparents, two parents and two children.
Time of Emergency Triple Zero (000) call 2:53am.
Crews investigating the cause.
UPDATE: And now this:
12:40pm Tuesday 21 December 2010 – Update on house destroyed by fire at Stirling ACT Fire Brigade investigators and AFP Forensic investigators have concluded the cause is undetermined and not of a suspicious nature.
FURTHER UPDATE: In the end a power board overload to blame:
1:35pm Final update on house destroyed by fire at Stirling Further to investigations, a determination has now been found that the cause was due to an electrical overload on a power board.
ACT Fire Brigade remind householders to be cautious of electrical loading particularly when properties are vacant over the holiday period. “
One Update For The Road: Kaylene has given this account of the harrowing escape:
5 kaylene
(Newbie)
22:19, 21 Dec 10It was number 10.. We live next door.. The family escaped via ladders over our fence… Very very nice neighbours who are very hard working, with 2 adorable little girls, a baby 4 months and a 3 year old.. They have lost everything but have good family and neighbour support.
It was incredibly frightening how quickly the fire took hold.. Thank god they got out.. They will be shellshocked for some time, as will those who saw the fire take hold, very very scary. I hope they get some sleep tonight, I know we haven’t slept since 3am.