Wheat bag sparks fire in Melbourne as authorities warn of their risk

A Melbourne blaze sparked by a wheat pack has prompted fire authorities to urge caution when using them, particularly over winter.

Firefighters had to use breathing apparatuses to enter the smoke-filled house in Aspendale Gardens, where they found a wheat bag inside the microwave last week.

The wheat pack was quickly extinguished and the fire was fortunately contained to the microwave, but smoke still filled the two-storey home.

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Country Fire Authority (CFA) Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it was a timely reminder during cooler months for people to take care when using wheat bags.

"Wheat bags are a popular choice for keeping people warm, but they have been linked to some fires and burns," he said.

"Constant use can result in the reduction of the moisture content of the wheat, causing it to overheat and result in a fire or burns.

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"We urge people to follow the manufacturer's instructions and not to overheat them."

CFA Captain Graham Fountain said the fire "could have been a lot worse".

"A lesson learned from this incident was that the wheat bag was more than a year old and was being heated for a long duration," Captain Fountain said.

"The smoke also did not reach the nearest smoke alarm in the home, so we encouraged the homeowner to improve their smoke alarm placement by installing them in recommended locations."