Drysdale home on Jones Rd destroyed in huge blaze
A 71-year-old Drysdale man is in shock, after a fire “completely engulfed” his home of 60 years. SEE THE VIDEO.
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A 71-year-old Drysdale man has been left reeling after a fire destroyed his home of 60 years on Friday, leaving nothing untouched.
Emergency services received reports of a possible barbecue fire on Jones Rd just after 6.30pm on Friday, and arrived to find the house “fully engulfed”.
Photos of the fire show plumes of smoke, illuminated by the flames, rising into the night sky.
The fire was visible from well down the road and crowd soon gathered to watch on as emergency services battled the blaze.
A Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesman said the fire was believed to have started around the veranda area of the house, but the cause of the blaze had not yet been identified.
He said the single-storey weatherboard house was completely aflame when firefighters arrived and the property could not be saved.
“We got the call at 6.41pm and it was under control by 7.20pm,” he said.
The owner of the property, 71-year-old David Jones, said he was not home when the fire started.
Mr Jones arrived at the property on Saturday to find it burnt to the ground, and said he was still trying to get his head around the devastation.
“I’ve lived here for 60 years,” he said.
“I have to sort myself out.”
He said he was “lucky” the tight-knit community had been very kind and many had already offered help.
A Victoria Police spokesman said police were investigating the fire.
“No one was inside at the time of blaze,” he said.
“A crime scene has been established and fire investigators are attending this morning.
“The circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be determined and an investigation remains ongoing.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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