Firefighters rescue man from Collingwood apartment

FRV firefighters rescued a man from a fire at an apartment building in Collingwood in the early hours of Monday morning.

Callers to Triple Zero (000) reported the fire at 4.06am and crews arrived at the Wellington Street scene within five minutes.

Upon arrival, crews located a fire in a second storey apartment, with a man on the balcony of the apartment in distress.

Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters entered the building and quickly extinguished the fire.

Crews used an aerial appliance to safely lower the man to the ground from the balcony, into the care of Ambulance Victoria paramedics. The man was believed to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

The scene was declared under control at 4.24am.

At this stage, it is believed the fire was caused by an e-bike battery, but FRV's specialist fire investigators will investigate the cause today and confirm this.