Woman and pets make fiery escape as blaze ruins home

FUNCTIONING smoke alarms helped a Barellan Point woman and her pets escape a house fire late Sunday night.

FIRE ESCAPE: A Barellan Point house sustained extensive damage in a blaze on Sunday night. Picture: Andrew Korner

FUNCTIONING smoke alarms helped a Barellan Point woman and her pets escape a house fire late Sunday night.

Neighbours rushed to the aid of the woman after being woken about 11.30pm Sunday.

Three crews of firefighters were on scene quickly, but were unable to prevent extensive damage throughout the low-set home.

Firefighters brought the fire under control by about 11.50pm, however fire had spread through the lounge and dining room, kitchen, hall and bathroom.

Fire investigators and police returned to the scene early yesterday to begin investigations into the cause of the blaze and the Riverside Ave house remained under police guard.

Neighbour John Winley said he and his partner had just been enjoying a barbecue with the house fire victim earlier in the night. He was awoken by the sounds of emergency crews a few hours later.

"I could smell this weird smell. I went back inside and told my partner and then I made sure (the resident) was out of the house," Mr Winley said.

"The smoke alarms definitely woker her up. They had been playing up lately and she thought it might be a false alarm, but they got her out of bed.

"The house was well alight when we got over there."

The early warning gave the woman enough time to save her two dogs and a pet bird.