Dog’s barking saves elderly woman trapped in Bongaree house fire

A neighbour’s dog is the hero of an early-morning fire on Bribie Island which damaged two houses. An elderly woman owes her life to the pet’s barking, which raised the alarm.

The fire caused damage to a carport. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

A neighbour’s dog is the hero of an early-morning fire on Bribie Island which damaged two houses.

An elderly woman owes her life to the pet’s barking, which raised the alarm after the fire broke out just after 1am at Bongaree.

The woman was taken to Caboolture Hospital in a stable condition but could have lost her life were it not for a neighbour’s dog which raised the alarm by barking.

The woman’s son, who was her full-time carer, was still in shock later this morning and declined to comment.

But a neighbour whose house was also damaged in the fire said it was lucky his dog had raised the alarm.

“She’s not normally a barker but on this occasion she saved the day,” said the man, who did not want to be named.

“I jumped out of bed and saw a red glow of flames through the garage.

“Once it hit the side of my garage I grabbed my guitar and dog and got out and called emergency services.

“Fortunately the kids weren’t here and I’m thankful nobody was hurt.”

The fire burned a wooden fence between the two properties and destroyed the neighbour’s fuse box, rubbish bin and spread to an alley down the side of his house.

Fire crews at the scene on Wednesday morning. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

Fire crews arrived at Lilac Ct at 1.13am to find the elderly woman’s home well alight.

They were forced to wear breathing apparatus as they battled the blaze.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said all occupants of the homes were accounted for.

By 2am, crews had the fire under control.

The interior of the woman’s home and her carport were extensively damaged.

Firefighters had to climb on the neighbour’s roof to extinguish part of the blaze.