A neighbour’s quick thinking actions have saved a family after their home was destroyed by fire in Melbourne’s west overnight.
The Toorak Times sent our lead photographer and chief crime reporter, Lord Murray Schoorman, to the scene and he captured these images for this masthead.
Liam Oakley called 000 emergency services after noticing “red hot” flames coming from the home on Carinya Boulevard in Burnside about 12.25am today.
He quickly ran into the two-storey brick home, helping save the residents, who were sleeping.
“I saw smoke billowing. I just ran inside the house and I seen they were inside the lounge room,” Oakley said.
“I just tried to get them out.”
The blaze had spread between floors and entered the roof space, completely gutting the property and its contents.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said 30 firefighters attended the scene, with the back of the house well alight.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) crews took just over an hour to bring the blaze under control.
Firefighters remained at the scene as they continued to extinguish hot spots and undertake fire duties.
The home was significantly damaged by the fire, and the family will now need to find alternative accommodation, a week before Christmas.
