Butcher saves sleeping neighbours from 'billowing' Canberra house fire

Posted Wed 19 Aug 2026 at 4:14pmWed 19 Aug 2026 at 4:14pm, updated Wed 19 Aug 2026 at 4:40pmWed 19 Aug 2026 at 4:40pmAn early-rising Canberra butcher has described saving his neighbours after discovering their house was on fire while they slept inside.Tom Freeman became emotional as he told 666 ABC Canberra about the family's heartbreak."To look into someone's eyes as they watch their house go up in flames is something I never want to do again," Mr Freeman said.But the Dunlop resident said his Canberra morning had started like any other.Waking about 5am, Mr Freeman had defrosted his car's windshield with a jug of water, returned the jug inside, and kissed his wife goodbye.But by the time he had returned outside, he could "smell something that wasn't quite right"."It smelled really rancid," he said.A family was able to escape their home in Dunlop, which was damaged by fire. (ABC News)He determined the smell was more sinister than a wood fire, so he decided to do a loop of the street before going to work.That is when he saw his neighbour's garage on fire."On inspection, it was billowing, it was smouldering badly," Mr Freeman said.Young girl, cat insideFirefighters were called to the property in Dunlop after the fire broke out. (ABC News)Mr Freeman urgently bashed on the front door and considered breaking a window."These people, they were dead to the world, they were asleep, they did not know what was going on in their garage."Their front door was almost red hot by the time we got there."He said the occupants included a young girl and her cat.Neighbour Tom Freeman observed smoke "billowing" from the garage. (ABC News)Mr Freeman then evacuated the immediate neighbours, called Triple Zero (000) and set off to his Kippax workplace after ACT emergency services were on site.On social media, Mr Freeman was lauded as a "hero" and a "champion", with many Canberrans commenting that he was the kind of neighbour everyone would like to have.No injuries have been reported, and authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire."My heart goes out to that family. I just hope they haven't lost everything," Mr Freeman said through tears.