Police allege arson, murder in Red Hills fire case

A man has been charged by arson investigators after a man died in a “deliberate” blaze in Red Cliffs. Read the latest and watch the video.

A 36-year-old Red Cliffs man has been charged with arson causing death after a fatal house fire in Red Cliffs on Sunday night.

Arson investigators were called to Red Cliffs in northern Victoria after a man died in an allegedly “deliberate” blaze.

In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Chris Murray said the arson squad and local Mildura detectives were treating the fire as “suspicious”.

“We believe that (it) was deliberate,” he said.

“The scene is a complex scene that has been extensively damaged.”

Detective Murray said a major crime scene had been set up and police had the chemicals the alleged arsonist had used.

A fire has burnt down a house in the small town of Red Cliffs, just outside of Mildura. One man died in the blaze.

“We’re 100 per cent confident it was arson,” he said.

“I’m not able to go into specific details of this early stage investigation but we are very confident this was a deliberate act.”

When asked how likely it was the alleged arsonist knew the 52-year-old man was inside the house, Detective Murray said it was “probably the case”.

A man has been killed in a horrific house fire in Red Cliffs. Picture: Sam Dirkis

Neighbours have spoken out about the fire.

Jemson Samson and his housemates were forced to quickly flee their house about 11.15pm Sunday, fearing the fire would spread.

“We were sleeping so we didn’t know anything, then suddenly one of my boys runs up and yells ‘fire fire’,” he said.

“He was still about, so he ran from across the street and knocked on the door and said ‘fire there’s fire’.

“So all the boys rushed in a helped us out.

The man will face court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.