Sixteen firefighters answered emergency calls shortly after 8:30 PM, using angle grinders to access the rear areas of the homes on Tripoli Road, where a fire erupted in a carport.

The fire, which started in a chimney in the corner of a rear pergola, quickly escalated. 

“Embers … were flying over our fence, so I was out the back just watching making sure our property was going to be OK,” said neighbour Raymond.

Shiralee Lindner, a resident of one of the affected properties, was not home at the time. 

“She just rang me when she was coming, like, ‘oh my god, my house is on fire’,” said her niece, Libby. 

Shiralee thanked the neighbors who warned her son, mentioning, “They rushed over to our house, knocked on the door, and my son quickly grabbed the dog and fled.”

Firefighters removed several animals from the homes, including a snake and birds, and a young infant was assessed by paramedics. Two cars were destroyed in the blaze.

The Metropolitan Fire Service said the blaze is a reminder to ensure there’s adequate ventilation when using outdoor heaters and to clean them once a year to prevent the build-up of flammable materials.