Elderly man dies in Kilmore retirement village blaze
An elderly man has died after a blaze ripped through a retirement village in Kilmore, north of Melbourne.
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An elderly man has died after a fire ripped through a retirement village north of Melbourne.
The man, 78, was killed when the blaze took hold at Kingsgate Retirement Village.
His partner and two neighbours, whose house was also engulfed in the blaze, made it to safety with no serious injuries.
The couple had only been living in the village for a few weeks before the tragic incident.
Forty people were evacuated and taken to a community centre attached to the retirement village.
A crime scene has been established but police are yet to determine the cause of the fire.
Benalla area Acting Inspector Jaymee Cutler said: “At the moment we haven’t been able to get into the scene.
“The arson squad is on the scene and ready to process. Causation or point of origin is yet to be determined.
“My understanding is these people only moved in a few weeks ago. I’m sure it’s a tightknit community in here and a lot of people are in shock.”
More than 20 firefighting units were called to the blaze at Kingsgate Village at Kilmore about 6.15am on Wednesday.
The Kilmore retirement village where one resident is unaccounted for @9NewsMelbpic.twitter.com/YL0Nz1z0yh
— Brendan Stafford (@BrendoM) July 26, 2023
Two homes within the village went up in flames while a third sustained heat damage. Most residents had evacuated by the time CFA trucks arrived.
The fire was brought under control at 7.15am but crews were still extinguishing hot spots about 8.30am.
Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria remained at the scene.
Melissa Johnston, who lives nearby, rushed down about 7.30am after hearing her parents’ home was on fire.
Both her parents made it out safely and were recovering in the village community centre.
Ms Johnston said her mother, Glynis, was “very shaken”.
“She woke up and went to the bathroom and the whole bathroom was on fire,” she said.
“It was the house next door to the one that was completely damaged.
“She’s lucky she’s a light sleeper.”
“Dad has dementia so he’s still trying to comprehend what’s going on.”
“Mum is still very shaken.
“The one next door has been lost from what I understand but my mum’s house is not liveable at the moment.”
Ms Johnston brought supplies for her parents who had rushed out of their home in their pyjamas.
Another resident who lives in the complex, and who did not want to be named, said the first he heard of the fire was when a “neighbour knocked on my door to tell me we had to leave”.
“It’s something you just don’t expect to happen,” he said.
Police said Mitchell Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating the fire.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and a crime scene has been established,” police said in a statement.
“It is expected detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad and an arson chemist will attend the property this morning.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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