A heroic neighbour tried desperately to rescue two people trapped in a burning home in Melbourne’s west but was forced back by the ferocity of the flames.
Two people were found dead in the Point Cook townhouse after it was engulfed in flames in suspicious circumstances in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Arson and explosives squad detectives are investigating the fatal blaze after emergency services were called to Point Cook about 3.40am on Wednesday to reports a house fire was spreading to nearby homes.
Police confirmed the death of a man just before 7.30am, with the body of a second person found later in the morning.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Kennedy said there were several “very brave efforts” from neighbours who tried to free the pair as the fire took hold.
He said one man grabbed a ladder to try to get upstairs but couldn’t because of the intensity of the flames.
“Certainly, very brave efforts by a number of neighbours who initially went to the front and because of the extent of the fire then went to the back and attempted to rescue the occupants from upstairs,” Sergeant Kennedy said.
“Very heroic and brave effort. Sadly, they did their best but the fire took hold.”
When firefighters arrived at the Totem Way address just before 4am, they found the double-storey townhouse alight and the flames spreading to homes on either side.
The occupants of the neighbouring homes were able to safely evacuate before emergency services arrived, but the intensity of the blaze and the structural integrity of the building prevented firefighters from searching the main property.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said the blaze took 60 minutes to bring under control.
Sergeant Kennedy said police were still yet to establish who and how many people lived at the address.
“We’ve had varying reports of how many precisely live in the residence,” he said.
“There is a mattress downstairs that looks like it’s been slept in recently, and there’s no one on that mattress.”
Sergeant Kennedy said at this stage it was believed the pair were a couple and their bodies were found near each other upstairs.
He said the fire was being treated as suspicious due to its intensity when firefighters arrived, with the blaze raging at the front and upstairs.
“With accidental fires that doesn’t really occur,” he said.
The fire destroyed one townhouse and damaged the two neighbouring properties.
The two victims are yet to formally identified.
Sergeant Kennedy said it was a “tragic, extensive, traumatic and complex fire scene” and parts of the house were still flaring up into the afternoon.
He said the extensive damage had so far made it too dangerous for an arson chemist to get into the three-bedroom house.
He said firefighters were trying to make the scene safe so the arson chemist could get into the property to investigate, with the process potentially extending into Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
“I’m sure with our arson chemist and forensic experts, we have a large team here, I’m hopeful that we’ll get those answers,” he said.
A community advice message was issued, recommending people in the area stay indoors, shut windows and switch off any reverse cycle airconditioning units due to the large amount of smoke.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC92aWN0b3JpYS9uZXdzL21hbi1mb3VuZC1kZWFkLWFzLXBvaW50LWNvb2staG9tZS1kZXN0cm95ZWQtYnktZmlyZS9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzA5MzY1OWY1MDkzNmEzZjFiM2YyOGIzNWVhOGFlMmEx0gGOAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLm5ld3MuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL25ld3MvbWFuLWZvdW5kLWRlYWQtYXMtcG9pbnQtY29vay1ob21lLWRlc3Ryb3llZC1ieS1maXJlL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvMDkzNjU5ZjUwOTM2YTNmMWIzZjI4YjM1ZWE4YWUyYTE?oc=5
2020-12-02 04:07:30Z
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