Plenty Rd, Kingsbury house goes up in flames amid claims squatters have taken over the property

Firefighters have rescued two people, believed to be squatters, from a burning building in Kingsbury.

Firefighters donned breathing apparatus to enter a building fire on Plenty Rd. Kingsbury and save two occupants. Picture: Odessa Blain

Two people — believed to be squatters — had to be rescued from a bunglaow fire in Melbourne’s northeast.

The blaze broke out at the rear of the abandoned Kingsbury building just after 10am on Wednesday.

The Herald Sun has been told the blaze may have been caused by squatters lighting a fire to keep warm.

A Victoria police spokesperson said the fire had been deemed non-suspicious.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) crews responded to the fire at 10.17am on Plenty Road after callers to Triple triple-0 reported the blaze.

An FRV spokesperson said firefighters arrived to find a fire, approximately 10m by 10m, at the rear of a brick veneer building.

Crews wore breathing apparatus and conducted a primary search of the building where one occupant was retrieved and handed to Ambulance Victoria for treatment.

Emergency crews rushed to a house fire on Plenty Rd, Kingsbury. Picture: Odessa Blain

A second search was conducted where crews retrieved another occupant who was handed to Ambulance Victoria.

Both were teated for minor injuries.

Ian Yep, the manager of the neighbouring Parkside Motel, said it wasn’t the first time a fire had broken out at the house and claimed a group of squatters frequently stayed there.

He further alleged one of the people who lived in the neighbouring property broke the door to his motel last week and he had needed to call the police.

Mr Yep’s colleague at the motel, Ansa Kanwal, said she was present when the fire started.

“I just noticed the smell of the smoke – it was just all the way smoking outside,” Ms Kanwal said.

She did not recall the extract time the fire broke out but said it was earlier in the morning and the fire brigade were quickly on the scene.