Residents escape south-east Melbourne house fire

POSTED 12.34AM:

At 11.17pm, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to a structure fire after callers to Triple Zero (000) reported a two-storey house fire with fire spreading from the ground floor into the second. Early reports were that three occupants were trapped inside, one on a balcony.

Crews arrived on scene within seven minutes and established external firefighting lines to attack the blaze and stop the fire spreading into adjoining properties.

Firefighting operations were initially hampered by poor water supply. Unfortunately, one residence of the 20m x 30m two storey dual-occupancy structure has been destroyed in the blaze. Firefighters were able to minimise the damage to the adjoining residence.

A total of five people evacuated the property, with one jumping from a first-floor balcony. Two of the occupants required treatment by Ambulance Victoria on scene before being transported to hospital.

A Community Advice warning was issued for smoke in the area.

The incident was deemed Under Control at 00.12am.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by FRV investigators at first light this morning, FRV operations will continue until early morning to ensure all seats of the fire are extinguished.

Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria were on scene assisting FRV operations.