Firefighters arrived 'just in time'

The Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a fire at an Old Bridge Rd property just in the nick of time, officer in charge Shane Ryan said.

A neighbour spotted smoke coming from the Alexandra house and alerted authorities.

''I think we made it very much just in time,'' Mr Ryan said.

Fighting the fire was ''very hot and very, very intense for the guys,'' he said.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked in shifts to locate and extinguish the fire.

The brigade had initial fears that someone was inside, as they found a car in the garage, but it turned out to be empty, Mr Ryan said. The owners were believed to be out of town.

The kitchen and lounge were extensively damaged and there was smoke damage throughout the house.

Mr Ryan declined to comment on whether the fire was suspicious. The cause of the fire was unknown last night.