A woman and her two grandchildren were lucky to escape uninjured after her Dungog home caught on fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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The house owned by Kerri Gorton on the corner of Dowling Street and Fosterton Road was totally destroyed in the fire that started around 1am.
Senior Constable Mitch Parker said he and fellow officer Senior Constable Dave Hanna from Clarence Town were patrolling when they came across the fire.
“The occupant and her two grandchildren were already out of the house and she had moved her car across the road to Norco,” Snr Constable Parker said.
“She was asleep on the lounge and her two grandchildren were in her bed when the smoke alarm went off.
“She thought the alarm was malfunctioning as she couldn’t smell any smoke, but she decided to check anyway.
“She went out the rear of the house and the back part was on fire.
“The winds were horrific and turned the fire into an inferno.
“We could see the occupants were out and safe so we went next door as the fire had jumped onto the fence and the rear of the adjoining building.
“We couldn’t make anyone hear so we forced entry, but no-one was home.”
Dungog, Morpeth, Raymond Terrace and Maitland Fire and Rescue NSW attended as well as Dungog and Clarence Town rural fire brigades.
Dungog paramedics were also in attendance.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said firefighters were unable to get inside the weatherboard house because of the ferocity of the flames.
“We don’t know what started the fire; it is going to be investigated,” he said.
“It is now in the hands of police but is not being treated as suspicious.
“The fire was extinguished by 3.40am, but the house was completely destroyed.
“But we know that it was the smoke alarms that saved the occupants.
“We urge everyone to make sure they have smoke alarms fitted inside their homes and are checked regularly to make sure they are working.
“If people are unsure if they are fitted correctly or are working properly they can ask for a fire brigade member to go to their homes and check.”
The Dungog Chronicle is accepting monetary donations for the Kerri Gorton Appeal. Credit card donations can be made over the phone by ringing 4992 1721, cash, credit and debit card by calling into the office at 114 Dowling Street, Dungog, or posting cheques to PO Box 96, Dungog NSW 2420. Receipts will be issued for all donations.