SES on scene as residents realise how lucky they are
Two teams of Northshore SES volunteers have spent all morning mopping up and securing properties in Nedlands after a fire caused extensive damage to a block of townhouses in the Perth suburb early this morning.
A spokesman for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Les Hayter, says the blaze broke out in Monash Avenue just after 3:00 am. Two townhouses caught on fire and were extensively damaged.
Resident Roger Paterson says "We heard someone on the roof which was our next door neighbour who'd had to crawl out his window. Apparently he'd leapt out of his window naked and was shouting for help. Some of the other next door neigbhours called the firies and got him some clothes."
His townhouse was gutted by the fire, while another three have extensive smoke and water damage. Mr Paterson says it is lucky that smoke alarms went off to alert residents to the blaze.
"Basically the back unit just caught fire, we think from a pilot light or something like that."
Mr Hayter says investigations are under way but it is believed the fire may have been started by an electrical fault. "We have our fire investigation officer down there and we hope to ascertain the cause and some estimate on the damage."
The damage bill has been estimated at more than $500,000.
