Firefighters battle ‘hoarding issues’ at Mulgrave house fire

Firefighters, including rescue and aerial units, have battled a high fuel load at a house fire in Melbourne’s east, where there were initial fears for the safety of people living there.

Crews battled a huge house fire in Mulgrave. Picture: Stock image

A Mulgrave house that had been used by people with “hoarding issues” has gone up in flames.

More than 30 firefighters were called to the house in Albany Drive just after 7.30am this morning, after several passers-by phoned 000.

Firefighters arrived in about seven minutes to find the single-storey brick house on fire.

The people who lived there were initially unaccounted for, so firefighters in breathing apparatus entered and searched the house, but did not find anyone inside.

Extra crews set up hose lines and worked to protect the property at the rear of the house which was also under threat, and stopped the fire from spreading.

Crews managed to get the fire under control by 8.11am, despite the premises having a high fuel load.

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Firefighters will remain on the scene to ensure the fire is completely extinguished.

In a statement, the MFB said there were “hoarding issues” at the house, and firefighters would be busy for some time blacking out the fire. No cause has been determined.

At the height of the incident there were seven MFB firefighting appliances on scene including a rescue and an aerial unit.