House in Sydney St, Albion, gutted by suspicious fire
A MELBOURNE house which authorities suspect was used by squatters has been gutted by a suspicious fire.
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A MELBOURNE house has been gutted by a suspicious fire and it’s not yet known whether anyone was inside the building at the time.
The building on Sydney St in Albion is not occupied, but authorities believe it may have been used by squatters.
Fire engulfed the property about 8.30pm, threatening a neighbouring property.
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Metropolitan Fire Brigade crews were confronted by thick black smoke and fire billowing from the building when they arrived at the blaze, which was declared under control in about 30 minutes.
“Due to the fire’s intensity, no internal search can be made in search of any people inside,” MFB spokesman Rod East said in a statement.
“It is believed that the house may have been used by transient squatters.”
A community advice message was issued over smoke in the area.
Police, ambulance and firefighters remain at the scene.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is being treated as suspicious.
Meanwhile, more than 100 people were evacuated from an apartment block on Flinders St after a fire took hold shortly before 5.30pm.
The blaze started on a balcony on the 20th floor of the Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne, spreading inside the building and causing an estimated $50,000 worth of damage.
An electrician was called in to check the apartments below for water damage, MFB Commander Phil Rogan told the Herald Sun.
Investigators will head to the site in the morning to determine what caused the blaze, but it’s not thought to be suspicious.