General News
6 August, 2021
Dog alerts owners to blaze at Lismore units
A LISMORE man insists he is not a hero, but was just acting on instinct when a fire broke out in a fuse box at units in Lismore.
A LISMORE man insists he is not a hero, but was just acting on instinct when a fire broke out in a fuse box at units in Lismore.
Johnny Davies, armed just with a hose, helped prevent the blaze from getting into the units roof in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said his dog Maisey first alerted him to the fire.
“I’d just been up to the toilet and 10 minutes later my dog started growling and making different noises to normal,” Mr Davies said.
“The electrical box is just opposite our bedroom window. I said to Lorraine (wife) to ring 000 and get everyone up and evacuated.”
Rushing outside with no shoes or shirt, Mr Davies grabbed a hose to try and extinguish the blaze.
“The flames were coming out over half a metre outside the box,” he said.
“I thought I’d try and keep it (the fuse box) cool with the hose. I knew if I could hold it in the box it would be right.”
Mr Davies said he was a former Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer.
“I don’t feel like a hero, I was just here at the right time,” he said.
“The smoke detectors didn’t go off in the units. I’m really grateful for Maisey.”
Neighbour June Mylonas said she was alerted to the blaze due to the noise and smoke outside her unit.
She said she was thankful for Mr and Mrs Davies efforts.
“If not for Johnny and family the outcome could have been loss of property or worse lives,” Ms Mylonas said.
“We were very fortunate that Mr Davies was on the ball.
“I’m so grateful to Johnny who is so wonderful and always ready to help any of us.
“As far as I’m concerned I am lucky to have Johnny Davies as my neighbour. Neighbour of the year.”
The residents of the Herriot Street units have been relocated since the blaze while the electrical equipment can be repaired.
