An Allen’s Rivulet man narrowly escaped death early Sunday morning when his two-story weatherboard home caught fire, being woken by the sound of a smoke alarm.
The Tasmania Fire Service responded to the blaze at the residence on Kaoota Road around 3 am.
Station Officer Emma Weitnauer explained that the fire began at the back of the house before rapidly engulfing the entire structure, resulting in its complete destruction.
She added that investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, as they are waiting for safe access to the site.
The occupant of the home, who was asleep when the fire broke out, was alerted by the sound of the smoke alarm.
Unable to reach any doors due to the intense smoke, he broke a window and climbed out to safety. He then alerted neighbors, who called the fire brigade.
Weitnauer emphasized the crucial role the smoke alarm played in the resident’s survival, stating that the outcome could have been tragic had the alarm not functioned properly.
