Burns victim still critical after blaze

A HOBART woman remains in a critical condition at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital after suffering serious burns during a Kingston house fire.

The Tasmania Fire Service was called to the Pine Avenue blaze about 12.30am yesterday, with the 58-year- old female resident suffering burns. She was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital but was later flown to the Alfred with burns to a significant part of her body.

The Alfred has a specialist burns unit.

The Tasmania Fire Service said crews from Hobart and Kingston arrived and found half the house alight, with flames coming from the windows.

Police were already on the scene when brigades arrived and had located the occupant but were unsuccessful in their efforts to rescue her due to the intensity of the smoke and flames.

Fire investigator Matthew Lowe said firefighters smashed down a door of the house to get to the woman.

“The occupant called in the fire ... she did allude that she had suffered some burns when she rang 000,” he said.

Mr Lowe determined the blaze was caused by a mechanical or electrical fault within a heat pump unit.

Damage to the property is estimated at $250,000.

It is believed a smoke alarm alerted the woman to the fire.

Mr Lowe said the TFS recommended homes be fitted with working smoke alarms in every sleeping area.

“You can’t smell smoke when you are asleep, so you are relying on your other senses to alert you if there is a fire,” he said.