A smoke alarm saved the life of an elderly woman who was asleep when fire broke out in her Chapman home in the early hours of Friday morning.
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Firefighters were called to the fire in Tauchert Street shortly before 2am.
The woman, who was the only occupant of the home, called triple-0 after she was woken by the alarm and had evacuated her home.
The roof of the house collapsed as multiple fire crews worked to extinguish the fire. The initial estimated damage bill is $500,000.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not believed to be suspicious.
The fire has been extinguished but a crew will remain at the property to monitor for any flare-ups.
Located near Chapman Primary School, fire trucks still in attendance could cause some minor traffic disruptions.
It was a busy night for emergency service crews.
The ACT SES received 62 calls for assistance due to the thunder, lightning and rain which rattled the capital.
