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- Woman loses everything a month after buying new home | Wood Street, Albury
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A WANGARATTA public housing home occupied by a woman well-known to police has been gutted by a suspicious fire.
The blaze broke out in the Higgins Street property about 7pm Tuesday and destroyed the home.
The woman renting the DHS property had recently left the house before the blaze started.
Firefighters searched the house twice after the fire to make sure no-one had been inside, hindered by syringes found at the property.
Four fire trucks and about 20 firefighters were needed to extinguish the blaze and police guarded the scene overnight.
Arson chemists examined items of interest yesterday and are working to determine the cause.
Police had been told the fire started in the kitchen, which investigations found “did not add up”.
Wangaratta firefighter Carl Stibilj said the blaze — one of three that gutted homes in the region on Tuesday — showed the importance of being fire ready.
“Being winter, people need to be aware that the number of house fires increases,” he said.
“People are using heaters, clothes driers and electric blankets and need to be aware of the risks.
“They need to have their heaters checked and make sure their clothes are well back.”
Having smoke alarms in working order was also vital, Mr Stibilj said.
“Working and tested smoke alarms are known to save lives,” Mr Stibilj said.
“People need to be aware of their environment.”
Anyone with information on the fire should contact Wangaratta police on (03) 5723 0888.