FRV fights Balwyn North house fire

At 7.19pm on Tuesday January 27, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to multiple Triple Zero (000) calls for a building fire at Winfield Road, Balwyn North.

The response was escalated.

Firefighters arrived within 7 minutes to find smoke and flames issuing from a double-storey townhouse.

Four people were able to escape the blaze when a smoke alarm was activated.

No-one was injured.

The fire started in a downstairs garage and quickly spread to engulf the top floor of the home.

Firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control, while also protecting homes on three sides that were under threat from the fire.

The fire was declared under control at 07.55pm, 29 minutes after FRV arrived on scene.

The response involved 33 firefighters, six pumpers, one aerial appliance, one rescue unit and two other units.

The garage and top floor of the townhouse have been extensively damaged.

The structure has partially collapsed, and an exclusion zone placed around the perimeter due to concerns of further collapse.

A council building inspector has been requested to attend to assess the safety of the building.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and will be investigated by FRV fire investigators.

FRV crews remained on scene overnight overhauling the scene.

ENDS