Update
A fire which badly damaged in Caringbah South started in the garage, and is believed to have resulted from an electrical fault with a fuse box.
The couple who have owned the house in Burraneer Bay Road for many years, as well as an adult son, escaped after they were awakened by the barking of one of their two dogs, a South African Boerboel.
Their other son was not at home.
The garage, two cars inside the garage and a room above were destroyed in the blaze, and the living area was also badly damaged.
Mark Harris, who live diagonally opposite the house, was awakened by “a weird humming noise” about 2.30am on Wednesday.
“There was an orange glow on our blinds and, when I looked out the window, I saw flames coming out of the garage,” he said.
Mr Harris’s wife Renee called Triple Zero while he “ran across the road and started yelling”.
“The occupants were already awake – their dog had started barking,” he said.
“I went inside and helped them get some things out.
“They were able to move a car that was parked in front of the garage, but not the two cars inside the garage.
“We had two hoses but the garage was glowing red hot and the water wasn’t getting inside.”
Another neighbour said there were a series of mini-explosions.
Fire & Rescue NSW investigators spent about two hours inspecting the house.
Fire & rescue NSW spokesman Norman Buckley said the fire started in the garage, with further details to be included in a report.
“We sent six fire trucks from Miranda, Cronulla, Sutherland, Menai and Mortdale stations plus a ladder truck from Kogarah,” he said.
”A duty commander from Kogarah also attended.”
Mr Buckley said the residents were not harmed, but they had lost two pet lizards in the blaze.
He said the house had smoke alarms, but there was none in the garage.
The family’s dog had started barking before the smoke alarms activated.
Update
A barking dog raised the alarm when fire broke out in a house in Caringbah South overnight.
The couple who own the house and their two adult sons, believed to be in their 20s, escaped unharmed although the house was severely damaged.
Residents in adjoining homes were evacuated as a precaution when the fire in the Burraneer Bay Road home broke out about 2.30am on Wednesday.
A neighbor said the residents told her they heard their dog barking and told him to be quiet.
One of the sons had then got up to investigate and had seen flames.
“They said the dog barked before the fire alarms went off,” the neighbour said.
“The house owner was in the fire brigade for 30 years so he knew what to do.
“They had the hose out very quickly and the fire brigade arrived about 10 minutes later.”
The neighbour said the owners believed an electrical fault may have caused the fire.
“I feel really sorry for them. He is so house proud and always out doing something,” she said.
Earlier
The occupants escaped unharmed when fire substantially damaged a house in Caringbah South overnight.
Residents in adjoining homes were evacuated as a precaution when the fire in the Burraneer Bay Road home broke out about 2.30am on Wednesday.
Fire & Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze..
“The residents inside the home were not injured, however were assessed at the location by NSW Ambulance paramedics,” a police spokesman said.
“Officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced and investigation.
“It is not yet known if the fire is suspicious and inquiries are continuing.”
