Occupants of a Wallowa St home were lucky to escape after their home caught fire in the early hours of July 21.
The property caught fire about 2.30am, with seven vehicles and about 20 people including CFA crews from Cobram, Muckatah and Strathmerton on scene by approximately 2.40am, but it was fully engulfed by the time they arrived.
Crews took measures to prevent the fire spreading to surrounding properties and took about 45 minutes to bring it under control at 3.19am; it was deemed safe an hour later.
The cause of the fire has been deemed not suspicious and no-one was injured.
Neighbour Jessie Treloar, who was asleep next door with her two children when the fire started, also quickly evacuated her home as it was very close to the blaze.
“It was so loud, with the trucks and stuff like that,” she said.
“It happened so quick... I didn’t even think about like grabbing anything except for my kids and the blankets on their backs really.”
Cobram CFA captain Adrian Hilder warned people to be cautious of fire risks during winter, especially around heating sources.
“Make sure to clean your heaters, whether that be a fireplace or electric heaters, do a monthly clean on them,” he said.
“If you’re drying clothing or bedding have your heater a safe distance away, if you do have heaters going overnight ensure they’re in a safe spot where nothing can fall on it and cause a fire.”
He explained prevention is better than active strategies such as fire extinguishers or fire blankets, and encouraged people to ensure their electrical equipment is in good working order.
“If you’re unsure get an electrician to look at the appliances... get qualified people to clean heaters and play with electricals,” he said.
“People think it won’t happen to them until it does. You can lose absolutely everything and you’ll be standing there with the clothes on your back.”