EMERGENCY services personnel have expressed frustration and disappointment with the spate of fires in Nangwarry following a blaze which engulfed a home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A family of five narrowly escaped the inferno that engulfed their O’Loughlin Street weatherboard home when flames enveloped both the front and rear of the property.
The five occupants – including two teenage boys – ran out of the house.
A 23-year-old man who woke the other occupants was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
The incident has fuelled alarm given there have been 12 fires – some deliberately lit – in the township since 2015.
Wattle Range Country Fire Service (CFS) deputy group officer Fred Stent, who was in charge of the scene on Sunday and has attended all house fires in
Nangwarry in recent years, labelled the situation as concerning.
“It is a concern for everyone but especially for the community and there is a big problem in that department,” Mr Stent said.
“We need people to come forward and speak with police as you hear a lot of rumours afterwards but these rumours need to be directed towards the police so they can do their job.
“The fact that someone has taken on this type of role is extremely disappointing and very frustrating for us and the community.
“My first thought when I attended the fire was whether there was anyone still in the house but the was pretty much done when we got there.
“I then had to think about the utilities and fuel that was around the place and look at saving the boats and cars which the crew did a fantastic job doing and stopping the fire spreading to the neighbouring properties.”
Mr Stent recommended Nangwarry residents remain vigilant and install closed circuit television.
“CCTV will assist in identifying people who are running the streets and are doing things they should not be doing,” he said.
“It is about being proactive in that regard and I know most community members are proactive but they just need to ensure they pass that information onto the police and with camera and hard evidence this will stop.”
Police have implored Nangwarry residents to come forward with information, with Limestone Coast operations manager Inspector Campbell Hill telling a press conference it was “incredible no one was injured”.
“It could have been a matter of minutes and we could be sadly talking about a multiple fatality,” he said.
While police have yet to link this latest house fire to other blazes in the town, law enforcers are calling for people “who know things, have been told things and have seen something” to come forward.
Inspector Hill revealed a number of residents had already provided information that was pointing police in a “certain direction”, but would not be drawn on whether the potential offenders were locals.
He said police will now step up its presence in the township, similar to what occurred after the Nangwarry Football Club fire.
Nangwarry Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Vicki Thorpe said community members had floated an additional push for residential surveillance, lighting, house numbering and police presence to combat the
“I think with COVID-19, there are a lot of people out there who are thinking everything is fair game at the moment,” she said.
“There are a hell of a lot of elderly people in this town and a lot of houses are empty too, which is a concern.
“I am very worried for my dad, my sister and all the vulnerable residents in the area.”
Meanwhile, donations have already started to pour in for the family impacted by the blaze, with Denise Lowrie launching a GoFundMe page to support her cousin Coby, her partner Maison and their young son Malakye.
Ms Lowrie said the trio had lost everything in the house fire, ahead of Malakye’s first birthday on Friday.
Visit www.gf.me/u/x7u2mz to donate.
