Freshwater home gutted by fire, occupants ‘very fortunate’ to be ok

Two people were rescued from a burning house on Wednesday morning, as flames gutted a two storey Queenslander in Cairns.

As flames spread across the two storey Queenslander three members of the public rescued the family inside. Station officer at Cairns Fire Station Dan Stowers confirmed everyone involved were safe and accounted for. Photo Tim Little.

An elderly couple are “very fortunate” to be alive after good Samaritans braved fire and smoke to rescue the pair from their burning home.

White flames billowed across Freshwater Wednesday morning as four fire crews, police cars and paramedics were called to help tackle the blaze on Old Smithfield Road.

It is understood three people rushed into the smoking home at roughly 7am and evacuated the elderly couple before fire crews arrived.

Station officer at Cairns Fire Station Dan Stowers said the occupants were rescued without any injuries from the blaze, which gutted the entire top floor of the home.

“On arrival, it (the fire) was well involved,” Mr Stowers said.

“We had reports occupants were in the structure, but on further information on arrival, we were advised that both occupants were out of the building.

“They had been assisted by three members of the public nearby.”

As flames spread across the two storey Queenslander three members of the public rescued the family inside. Station officer at Cairns Fire Station Dan Stowers confirmed everyone involved were safe and accounted for. Photo Tim Little.

The fire took crews roughly 20 minutes to get under control.

Mr Stowers said the occupants were “very fortunate” to be alive after flames destroyed the entire first floor of the home.

“As you can see behind me, the whole top floor is pretty much gone…the house is not habitable.”

The cause of the fire unknown at this stage but investigators were on the scene and would begin work as soon as the structure was safe to enter.

Station Officer at Cairns Fire Station Dan Stowers said the blaze was under control in roughy 15-20 minutes but his team now had the laborious task of finding and eliminating any remaining hotspots throughout the structure. Photo Tim Little.

Mr Stowers said the timber nature of Queenslander style homes made them especially fire prone but emphasised the risk can be managed with numerous and up to date smoke detectors.

“That’s the nature of living in a Queenslander they’re a beautiful house, but again, these things can happen,” Mr Stowers said.

“Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Do regular annual checks. If you’re not sure, call the local fire station.

“Smoke alarms save lives, so you’ve definitely got to have them.”

The Balae comes as a primary school-aged girl had been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire engulfed a second-story building near Innisfail just one day earlier.

Four fire crews and a number of paramedics arrived to the blaze at the rear of a residential building on Johnstone Road in Coquette Point just after 4.20am on February 10.

Four other patients were assessed on scene.

Originally published as Freshwater home gutted by fire, occupants ‘very fortunate’ to be ok