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- Syringes found in wreckage of house fire | Higgins Street, Wangaratta
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AN ALBURY woman has lost everything in a house fire only a month after buying it.
The Wood Street resident discovered the fire inside her home about 11pm on Tuesday.
The Chinese migrant, who has lived in Albury about a decade, escaped as flames took hold and the design of the house hindered firefighters as they attempted to extinguish the fire.
The house was destroyed and firefighters spent about 3½ hours containing the blaze. The woman was yesterday seeking temporary accommodation.
Investigators examined the house and believe an electric blanket on a bed at the rear of the home may be the cause.
“The fire got into the roof and was threatening a neighbouring house when firefighters arrived,” Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Bob Sayer said.
“It proved very difficult to assess due to the age and the construction of the house.
“It took hours to access the fire in the roof.”
The roof is made from pressed metal sheeting which took several hours to peel back, and the internal ceiling is made from pressed steel that has been plastered over.
“An enormous amount of heat built up in the roof,” Inspector Sayer said.
“There was no damage to the neighbouring premises.”
People are being reminded to have working smoke alarms as the risk of fire increases during winter.
All NSW homes are required by law to have at least one working smoke alarm, and Inspector Sayer said photoelectric alarms were the most effective.
“People also shouldn’t leave electric blankets unattended,” he said.
“They should operate them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”