Saved by neighbours

WARWICK residents Gloria and John Brady can thank their smoke alarm and fast-acting neighbours for saving their Palmerin Street home.
A fire broke out inside the Bradys’ kitchen at about 10.15am on Tuesday 23 April., while both Gloria and John were in town.
The alarm was first raised by Julie Hafemeister, who lives in Locke Street, and who heard the smoke alarm sounding inside the house.
When there was no answer to a knock at the front door, Mrs Hafemeister noticed the house was filling with smoke.
“I heard the alarm at about 10.30am and when I realised no-one was home, I raced over to alert (nearby resident) Terry (Chapman),” she said.
A volunteer firefighter for Queensland Rail, Mr Chapman sprung into action and attempted to gain access into the home.
“I’d just got home from fishing when Julie came running over and said the smoke alarm was sounding inside the Brady home,” he said.
“We both dialed triple zero and then I attempted to find a way inside.”
Mr Chapman climbed a six-foot fence into his neighbour’s backyard and found the backdoor was unlocked.
“I looked inside and the house was full of smoke,” he said.
“I walked towards the kitchen and saw the cupboard ablaze, with flames rising towards the ceiling.”
Mr Chapman ran outside and turned off the power main, before he returned to the smoke-filled kitchen.
“I knew if I didn’t act fast they could lose everything,” he said.
“So I re-entered the kitchen and found a large measuring cup which I kept filling with water and throwing at the flames.”
Firefighters later discovered that a cupboard door had slid down onto a toaster’s lever – causing the appliance to ignite.
Mr Chapman said he threw about 12 jugs of water towards the blaze before the flames subsided.
“The smoke was so thick by this point, I had to keep running in and out to catch my breath,” he said.
“Fortunately, I was able to extinguish the fire – had it been five minutes more they would’ve lost it.”
Two Warwick fire crews arrived at the scene by about 11am and assessed the property for further hotspots.
Mrs Brady said the family felt extremely fortunate, grateful and lucky.
“Words cannot describe how grateful we are for our neighbours’ quick thinking,” she said.
“I received the call while I was at lawn bowls and John was working at the railway at the time.”
Mrs Brady said it was also lucky her husband had replaced the smoke alarm only a week prior to the incident.
“John had only just replaced the smoke alarm after we noticed it had stopped working,” she said.
The Bradys were now urging other residents to get to know their neighbours and check their smoke alarms were working.
“They really were our guardian angels – we feel so fortunate and lucky,” she said.
“It goes to show that you should get to know your neighbours, check your smoke alarms, and always turn appliances off at the wall.”
Insurance was expected to cover damages.