A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after a house fire tore through a Roxburgh Park home on Wednesday morning, with the quick thinking of two teenagers likely preventing further tragedy.
The fire broke out about 7.30am on 19 March at a property on Correll Way, in Melbourne's north. Two teenagers were able to break a window and escape from the smoke-filled house after being alerted to the blaze by a smoke alarm. Once outside, the teens made a call to triple-0 and advised that there was still someone inside the house.
The alert gave firefighters crucial information. When firefighters arrived and entered the home, they found a woman in her 50s unconscious in a bedroom. Firefighters and paramedics treated the woman at the scene before taking her to hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
The fire was severe. A bedroom and roof spaces suffered extensive fire damage, and the rest of the home was heavily smoke filled. This heavy smoke accumulation underscores why the teenagers' early escape and alert call made the difference between a potentially tragic outcome and one where the woman had a chance of survival.
FRV fire investigators and police are investigating the cause of the fire. For those living in similar homes, the incident highlights the life-saving importance of working smoke alarms. The teenagers heard the alarm, recognised the danger, and acted decisively; that combination of functional safety equipment and quick thinking created a window for rescue.
For the woman's family and the emergency services who responded, the hours ahead will be critical. The incident reminds households that smoke alarms work only when they function properly and when occupants treat their warnings seriously.