Hero cat saves owner from burning home

A pet cat has been praised for waking its owner during a huge house fire at Elanora on the Gold Coast overnight.

The blaze broke out around 4.30am (AEST), quickly engulfing the two storey property.

A male occupant was alerted to the fire after hearing his cat running frantically around the house, before the smoke alarms had even been activated.

A firefighter at the scene told 7News the cat had saved the man’s life.

“That’s what made him aware of the smell and that’s how he escaped.”

“He said he could hear it running around the house, scratching and banging off the walls,” he said.

Two firefighters were injured while putting out the blaze and were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

One was hit by falling roof debris, while the other experienced elevated blood pressure.

Crews were able to bring the blaze under control but firefighters suspended their efforts after the house began collapsing in on itself.

An excavator was brought in to pull down the remaining structure.

Local resident Barry Snig said smoke was billowing from the house.

“It’s actually covering quite a region in the area here.”

“It’s actually the scent of plastic, which is quite clear,” he said.

The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor.

Investigations continue into the cause of the blaze.