Firefighters have praised a mystery passer-by who helped save an elderly couple from their burning Wyndham Vale home then disappeared.
The man noticed flames coming from the Provan Drive house about 7.45am on Thursday and immediately alerted the two occupants.
Wyndham Vale CFA captain Trevor Weston said the man used a garden hose to “knock the fire down” until firefighters from Wyndham Vale, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee arrived.
The fire took about 20 minutes to bring under control.
Do you know the mystery hero? Call Laura Michell on 8318 5750.
The couple, both in their 70s, escaped unhurt but were treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene.
Mr Weston said the fire, believed to have been started by an electrical heater, was contained to the lounge room, but there was smoke and heat damage to the rest of the home.
Mr Weston said the blaze highlighted the importance of working smoke alarms. “It appears from preliminary investigations there were none in the home,” he said.
“Without the passer-by noticing the fire, the outcome may have been much worse.”
The fire came just one day after the CFA urged people to be aware of fire risks around their homes, operations manager Rohan Luke saying the loss of possessions and memories paled in comparison to the risk of being injured or killed.
“By the time a house fire is called into triple-0 it may already be too late for residents to escape,” he said.
“The best way to survive a fire in the home is to be alerted at the earliest opportunity by a working smoke alarm.”
