Melbourne lockdown: Ferny Creek family car fire caused by rat nest after self-isolation
Iso life has changed the way we are living, but for this family it led to more trouble than they bargained for after a quick drive to the shops ended in a car fire in Melbourne’s outer east. And it’s a lesson for the rest of us.
Outer East
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Rats are being blamed for a car fire in Ferny Creek which significantly damaged a car engine after a family’s period of coronavirus self-isolation.
CFA firefighters were called after a resident returned from a quick shopping trip to Ferntree Gully, afterdiscovering smoke billowing from under the bonnet on Sunday, July 12.
Sassafras-Ferny Creek CFA lieutenant John Schauble said the family had not used the car in weeks after self-isolating.
During that time, rats had moved in and built a comfy nest on top of the engine with bark, twigs and sticks, Mr Schauble said.
He said no rats were harmed but the fire had melted the plastic engine covering and damaged the engine.
“They (rats) like to chew out insulation and wiring in the cars and to make nests. It’s the same in houses,” Mr Schauble said.
He said the family had not used the car in a few weeks after staying home because of coronavirus.
“It’s a warning to people to look under the bonnet before starting the car after it hasn’t been started for awhile,” Mr Schauble said.
He said it was the first time the brigade had been called out because of a car fire caused by a rat nest.
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