Woman dead, man arrested after suspicious fire engulfs Wantirna house
A suspicious fire engulfed a two-storey home in Melbourne’s east this morning, with a woman’s body found inside the home. A “very agile” elderly man was arrested at the scene..
VIC News
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A woman’s body has been found inside a house engulfed in flames this morning, with an elderly man arrested at the scene.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad and the Arson and Explosives Squad are at the scene of the suspicious house fire.
The MFB were called to Templeton Street about 8am following reports a two-storey house was engulfed in flames.
An 81-year-old man has been arrested and taken to hospital under police guard.
A woman’s body was found in the house. She is believed to be related to the man in custody.
The house is unstable, causing police to cordon off a 150m stretch of Templeton road.
The police airwing has been deployed to take aerial shots of the crime scene.
MFB spokesman Ross Duncan said four fire crews including an aerial crew had been deployed.
A tradie at a neighbouring worksite said he saw a man standing on the roof when the home was engulfed in flames.
“I saw a man standing on a roof,” the tradie said.
“He was a very agile 81-year-old.”
The witness said the man did not appear agitated.
Victoria Police could not confirm reports of a seige last week at the same property.
“Detectives will look at any interaction with police involving the occupants of the property as part of this investigation,” a spokeswoman said.
“However it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time given the investigation by the Homicide and Arson & Explosives Squads is in its infancy.”
Templeton Street resident Bec Harris said she saw “cops flying everywhere” earlier this morning.
“It was pretty chaotic in the street,” she said.
“It’s usually pretty quiet so it’s a bit of a shock.
“It’s a bit scary, a bit terrifying to have two incidents in the one week.
“It’s neighbourhood word there was a siege in the street last Friday about 1pm.”
Neighbours said an elderly couple lived in the home and they had at least two sons.
It is understood police attended the property last Friday responding to a dispute of some sort.
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“It is still early stages of the incident and further information will be provided,” a Victoria Police spokesman said