An off duty firefighter has had a crucial hand in rescuing an unconcious woman from her burning home in Mount Helen this morning (Monday 15 June).
CFA was called to the Wirreanda Drive house at 8.11am and on arrival found the two storey mud brick structure well alight.
CFA District 15 Operations Officer Anthony Pearce said the two occupants were in bed on the second storey when the fire broke out.
“A neighbour and then firefighters successfully rescued the couple from the second storey and they were transported to hospital by paramedics,” he said.
“One of their neighbours who happened to be a CFA volunteer was instrumental in the rescue effort.”
Bunniyong volunteer and neighbour John McLeod climbed onto the roof of the home and pulled a woman from the burning house.
"I tried to get up the ladder but the ladder was close to the toxic smoke, so I had to get down," Mr Mcleod told the Courier.
"I got (the man) to drag her to the opening... I ran and got a harness."
Due to the fuel load in the house and issues with water access, it took 20 CFA trucks nearly two hours to control the fire.
The house has been destroyed and firefighters are expected to be on scene most of the day.
The cause is unknown at this stage and will be investigated once the fire is extinguished.
Read more and see photos and video in The Courier.
Photograph courtesy of The Courier.
Author: CFA Media