Be careful where you charge your mobile phone.
That’s the warning from emergency authorities after a family of four in Adelaide lost their home in a fire.
Investigators believe the blaze started from a faulty extension lead, as one of the occupants charged their phone on a bed.
Firefighters were called to the rental property in Aberfoyle Park on Tuesday evening.
The family managed to escape the blaze along with their pets, but their home was gutted.
Shelly Hudson’s daughter called her about 8pm, frantic the house was on fire.
Moments before, the home’s electricity cut out, Hudson said.
When one of the adults went to check the fuse box, they came back to find a bed in the house engulfed in flames.
South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service community engagement manager Gavin Allen says the public needs to be vigilant about where they are charging their phones.
“The family were extremely lucky,” Allen said.
“The MFS recommends that any power cords or electrical device being used have adequate ventilation, don’t lay them across any combustible items such as your bed or rug or carpets.
“Don’t cover them up.”
It’s estimated there’s been $600,000 worth of damage to the house.
Hudson says her daughter has lost all her belongings.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” she said.
Neighbours said minutes after they saw smoke coming from the bedroom, the whole house was alight.
Homeowners are recommended to install interconnected 240V photoelectric smoke alarms in every living area and room of a house, including the garage.
The MFS recommends the alarms are checked every month, dust build-up cleaned every six months and the alarm replaced every 10 years.
