The fire is said to have started in the back of the home in Hughes. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Firefighters say a blaze that “extensively damaged” a home in Canberra’s south isn’t suspicious.
Emergency services were called just before 11 am today (5 May) to a home on Birdwood Street in Hughes, where they found the house alight.
ACT Fire and Rescue Superintendent Paul Flynn said the home was left “extensively damaged” by the blaze, which is believed to have started at the back of the house.
“When crews arrived, the house was fully engulfed [and] flames were clearly visible from the street to an area of the house at the back of the property.”
He also said two people were understood to have evacuated the home and were “okay”.
An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesperson told Region that multiple ACT Fire and Rescue crews and an ambulance had been called to the scene.
Superintendent Flynn said the cause of the fire would be investigated.
“We don’t know what caused it; however, we don’t believe it’s suspicious.”
Around the time of publication (1:30 pm), road closures were in place for a stretch of Birdwood Street, from Leane Street to Downes Place.
Superintendent Flynn said this was due to the high amount of smoke in the area and to help firefighters in their work.
“We need to keep [the road] as clear as we can, so we know where people are so both the community and our firefighters are safe,” he said.
He added that while nearby properties were evacuated, authorities believed there was limited safety risk to the public.
“The risk is always there [of the fire spreading], but we believe it’s quite low at the moment,” he said.
“There’s a decent distance between the property on fire and the next-door one, but crews do keep an eye on that.”
