Detectives from the General Crime Section and Fire and Rescue Investigators are investigating a structure fire in Humpty Doo yesterday morning.

Police, Fire and Rescue and St John Ambulance Officers attended the residence at approximately 4:00 am and found the house to be fully engulfed in flames.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Board said the house was completely destroyed by the fire.

“Initial investigations indicate the fire started in the bathroom and thankfully the two female occupants of the house escaped uninjured.

“Given that the house had no working smoke alarms, if the women had been asleep when the fire started, this incident could have easily ended in tragedy.

“Your sense of smell is drastically impaired when you sleep and I urge all home owners to install smoke alarms; working smoke alarms can save your life,” said Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Board.

Fire and Emergency Regulations now require the installation of photoelectric smoke alarms in all Territory homes as of 01 November 2011.

The photoelectric alarms are strongly favoured by fire services everywhere, as they are able to detect smouldering fires that are not as quickly picked up by the ionization type of alarms.

Approved smoke alarms are available from all major retail outlets and hardware stores and further information about the alarms and the new regulations is available at www.fire.nt.gov.au. 

Investigations are continuing.

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Sarah Trinne
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