Woman saved from burning home after New Year’s fireworks set off

Footage shows the moment a woman’s house was engulfed in flames when a street fireworks display on the Mornington Peninsula went horribly wrong.

A hero tradie who rescued a woman from a burning home on the Mornington Peninsula overnight, minutes after fireworks and flares were set off outside, has described the moment “all hell broke loose”.

Jon Croft and his family were celebrating New Year’s Eve at his parents’ house in Alma St, Tootgarook when the incident unfolded just after midnight.

The quick-thinking carpenter ran across the road to save the 57-year-old woman.

She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“There was a few crackers going off and we were out the front with the kids watching,” Mr Croft said.

Jon Croft came to the rescue after fireworks set a home in Tootgarook alight. Picture: David Smith

“One shot off a bit lower and then seconds later there’s a lady screaming and all of a sudden all hell broke loose.

“I ended up running across the road down to where the fire was and the front bedroom of the house was almost engulfed.”

Mr Croft said he saw a woman inside screaming for help.

“Everyone could see her and not too many people were doing anything so I had to run over there,” he said.

The front room of the home was completely destroyed in the blaze. Picture: David Smith

Remnants of an exploded firework on the ground outside the Alma St property. Picture: David Smith

“I ended up picking up a brick and smashing the window out and dragging her out straight through the glass.

“She was just screaming – I’m pretty sure she had a few burns on her, she was in a bit shock.”

Mr Croft said the incident had left him “a bit shaken”.

“It’s sort of sunk in now, like I didn’t think nothing last night but right now I’m a bit shaken,” he said.

Police are investigating the incident, which is being treated as suspicious.

The fire engulfed the front room of the house. Picture: David Smith

Investigators are probing the cause of the fire. Picture: David Smith

Meanwhile, a woman was injured in a fireworks incident at Altona Beach just after midnight on New Year’s Day.

The 48-year-old was taken to hospital with an eye injury.

A 20-year-old Truganina man was arrested at the scene and has been released pending further inquiries.

In a separate incident, a man was glassed during an ugly dispute on Flinders St about 11.15pm.

A fight is believed to have broken out between two men before one glassed the other.

A 40-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries and a 37-year-old man is currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Police are expected to provide an update on crowd behaviour across Melbourne on New Year’s Eve later on Monday after hundreds of thousands of people packed the CBD to ring in 2024.