Cannonvale catastrophe avoided as Whitsunday police officers extinguish oven fire

A Whitsunday family was forced to flee their home when a fire broke out in the kitchen on Wednesday night.

Cannonvale resident Hayley Doherty thanked emergency services for extinguishing the oven fire before it got out of control. Picture: Facebook

A quick response from Whitsunday police saved a Cannonvale family home from burning down on Wednesday night.

Police were first on the scene when an oven caught fire at an Abell Rd address about 7.30pm, sending residents running to escape the smoke-filled building.

Whitsunday police senior sergeant Nathan Blain said police officers were able to enter the dwelling, disconnect the power and gas supplies, and “pull the oven off the wall” before anything else caught alight.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesperson confirmed the blaze was extinguished by the time two fire crews arrived at the home about 7.45pm.

The fire broke out on Abell Rd, Cannonvale, about 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Fire crews conducted atmospheric monitoring and the residents were able to return to the dwelling when they got the all clear just after 8pm.

Resident Hayley Doherty posted on social media on Thursday morning saying she and her children were safe and well, thanking police sergeant Tony Parkinson and his partner for their “quick thinking that saved the house”.

“I can‘t express how grateful I am, thank you so much, we’re so lucky to have you looking after our community,” Ms Doherty posted on a community page.

Originally published as Cannonvale catastrophe avoided as Whitsunday police officers extinguish oven fire