POLICE have credited a smoke detector with preventing a house fire from escalating at the weekend.
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Emergency services were called to an address at Market Street in Eaglehawk about 5am on Saturday after the occupants awoke to the sound of the smoke detector.
Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit Detective Acting Sergeant Jason Smith said the occupants opened the front door to find a mat was alight.
He said the CFA attended and extinguished the fire with the help of the occupants, who removed the mat from the front of the house.
MAP: Indicates the location of Market Street, rather than a specific address.
Detective Acting Sergeant Smith said there was minor damage to the front of the house. The two occupants were uninjured.
“It had the potential to have been much worse than what it was,” he said.
Fire investigators and members from the Bendigo CIU attended later that day.
“We believe the fire was deliberately lit,” Detective Acting Sergeant Smith said.
He appealed for anybody with any information to call the Bendigo Police Station on 5448 1300 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. To make a confidential report online, visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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