Fire has destroyed a unit in Barkly Street Ringwood

A woman has spoken of the frightening moment her next door neighbour’s unit went up in flames in Ringwood, with her dogs alerting her to the blaze.

A unit in Barkly St Ringwood was destroyed by a fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A Ringwood woman has described the “terrifying” moment her next door neighbour’s unit went up in flames, describing it as the worst moment of her life.

Tarli Lovelock’s dogs alerted her to the fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with her neighbours’ home engulfed with flames.

“My dogs went off (barking) and I went back to sleep because I thought it was nothing,” she said.

“Then I woke up and picked them up and saw the fire out the window and ran outside.

“It was terrifying – it was the worst experience of my life.

“My main priority was my dogs and I got them out.”

Ms Lovelock is now waiting to see if her unit will be safe for her to return to live in.

It suffered water damage as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze next door.

Ms Lovelock said the resident who lived in the unit that burned down was absolutely devastated and kept trying to run back inside the burning building.

Ringwood unit fire: the charred remains of the home.

The fire started at about 4am Tuesday.

Two people were treated for smoke inhalation after the unit was engulfed with fire.

The single-storey brick unit in Barkly St was destroyed in the blaze, with the ferocity of the flames causing the roof to collapse.

Fire Rescue Victoria firefighters were called to the fire about 4.02am Tuesday and found the brick veneer unit fully ablaze.

Firefighters at the scene on Tuesday morning.

An occupant of the home was able to confirm to firefighters that everyone had managed to get out of the unit.

Fire Rescue Victoria said Ambulance Victoria was requested to attend to treat the man and another resident who were suffering from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were able to protect neighbouring homes in the five unit complex which were under threat from the fire as flames broke through the roof of the structure.

The fire was declared under control at 4.33am, but fire crews, police and Ambulance Victoria remain at the scene.

The cause of the fire will be investigated.

Safety procedures have also been implemented due to asbestos being present in the building.