Electric stove sparks Queanbeyan house fire

The fund is being organised by a family friend and they hope to raise at least $3000 to help replace items including beds, lounges and television.

"The whole kitchen and laundry were burned to nothing and all the bedrooms, lounge room, bathroom were all smoke damaged," it says on the donation page.

"All kitchen appliances are gone as well as washing machine, dryer, television, mattresses, freezer, kids toys and lounges have to now be replaced."

Donations can be made at: www.gofundme.com/rb39p4.

Earlier this week, Queanbeyan Fire Station officers confirmed the blaze had been caused by an electric strove which was left unattended. 

Queanbeyan Fire Station Officer Mark Beachcroft predicted thousands of dollars of damage to the Cameron Road, Karabar house following the fire on Wednesday, April 8.

After speaking with the owners, authorities discovered the occupants' young children had turned the stove knob on to 'high' that afternoon.

Unaware, the family left the premises and went down the street. Items left around the stove ignited the fire.

Queanbeyan Fire Station received a call to the house at 2.28pm and reached the home just three minutes later.

"Even en route you could see quite a bit of smoke from the house and when we arrived there were smoke and flames coming from the front window of the house where the kitchen area is," Mr Beachcroft said.

"We were just about the knock down the front door when the owners arrived and gave us the keys."

It took firefighters about 15 minutes to extinguish the flames and no one was home at the time of incident. The family had a working smoke alarm at the time of the fire.

"It's lucky we got there when we did because the fire had started to extend to the roof," Mr Beachcroft said.

"Five minutes later the fire would've been well and truly in the roof."

Mr Beachcroft said the incident was a timely reminder for residents to prepare for the winter season.

He suggested checking smoke alarms and replacing batteries, getting heaters serviced, testing electric blankets before using them and cleaning the lint filter of any dryers.