Woman and child hospitalised after fire tears through Crace home

Intensive Care Paramedics assessed and treated a woman and child at the scene. Photos: George Tsotsos

A woman and child have been taken to hospital after a fire tore through a Crace home on Tuesday afternoon (21 August).

At 1:53 pm, emergency services were called to extinguish a house fire on Benalla Street in Crace, which is believed to be caused by clothes left too close to a heater.

Around five fire trucks, two ambulances and more than 10 police officers attended the scene.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but the single-storey home suffered considerable damage and partially collapsed, with the roof completely caved in. Police cordoned off part of the street while firefighters fought the flames.

Intensive Care Paramedics assessed and treated a woman and child at the scene before transferring both patients to Calvary Hospital in a stable condition.

Firefighters will remain on scene while they conduct atmospheric monitoring and air ventilation operations to ensure the area is safe.

The initial investigations suggest that the cause of the fire was clothing left near a heater but further investigation will be undertaken.

ACT Fire & Rescue urge the community to keep heaters well clear of items that might burn. They suggest a minimum of one-metre clearance from clothes, bedding furniture, curtains and other combustibles in order to make a home safe.