Man’s body found in burnt-out house in Rowville

UPDATE: A MAN has died in a fire that engulfed a home in Melbourne’s southeast, in what appears to have been a tragic accident.

The man is believed to have been living by candlelight, with no power connected at the property. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

A MAN has died in a fire that engulfed a home in Melbourne’s southeast, in what appears to have been a tragic accident.

Firefighters pulled the 53-year-old Rowville man from his burning home after Vista Cres neighbours noticed thick, black smoke blanketing their street this afternoon.

But the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

It’s understood he had lived alone at the property and had been using candles for power.

Police confirmed electricity had not been connected to the house for some years.

Authorities are investigating whether the candles may have been the cause of the blaze, which took two hours to bring under control.

The man’s sister was being comforted outside the victim’s home.

Neighbours shook their heads in disbelief, saying they were saddened by the news.

They didn’t know the man well but remembered him as friendly and a “quiet recluse”.

“He was a nice man,” one woman said.

“We barely saw him. He kept to himself.

“I saw the fire engines and the police and came out to see black smoke billowing from the house — it’s not what you would expect on a quiet Monday afternoon.”

CFA and MFB crews remained on the scene last night while a coroner removed the body from the front lawn of the property.

Acting Senior Sergeant Darren Kenos said the incident appeared to be a tragic accident and police did not suspect the victim had met with foul play.

“There was no electricity attached the house, he was known to live by candlelight,” Sen-Sgt Kenos said.

Firefighters had rushed to the property about 2.45pm and discovered the house fully engulfed, with the windows and doors — including a front security screen — locked.

They smashed a window to climb into the master bedroom at the front of the neat single-storey brick home and began a search for occupants.

The man was found in his underwear, lying on the floor in the kitchen.

“They (firefighters) have dragged him out on to the front lawn (but) he was deceased,” Sen-Sgt Kenos said.

“The house was fully destroyed.”

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.