Three in narrow escape from fire

THREE people have been taken to hospital after a fire tore through a home at West Tweed early yesterday.

Three fire crews, including a Hazmat unit, were called to the Tattler Crt home just after 7.10am when smoke was seen billowing from the home.

Neighbours said an elderly man and his disabled daughter were inside the home, with a carer fortunately on hand to help raise the alarm.

Tweed Heads Fire and Rescue station officer Kerry Webster said it was believed the blaze started in an airconditioning unit at the rear of the house.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the rear of the home but estimated approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the home had been destroyed.

The three occupants were taken to hospital for treatment.

Neighbour Gemma Lee said she woke up to a “popping sound” she thought was part of her own home renovations.

“I walked outside and I was hit by smoke and that’s when I saw the flames,” Ms Lee said.

“The firies immediately yelled at me to get back inside.”

Soon after, Ms Lee saw the devastated homeowner scanning the scene of the wreckage before he was taken to hospital.

It is believed the intervention of the carer may have been critical in evacuating the father and daughter from the home.

“If it wasn’t for the carer I don’t now if they would’ve made it,” Ms Lee said. “I don’t think he would have been able to get his daughter out of there, but he wouldn’t have left her.

“It could have been a lot worse if the man didn’t have help.”

The fire comes just weeks after a wheelchair-bound man was tragically killed in a house fire at Tweed Heads on May 1.