Elderly man jumps for life out window of burning apartment in Carnegie

A man in his 60s has been rushed to hospital after he jumped from the window of a burning apartment in Melbourne’s southeast on Monday morning.

Firefighters were called to an apartment fire in Carnegie on Monday morning. Picture: Victorian Government

An elderly man has been taken to hospital after jumping from his window to escape a blaze in Melbourne’s southeast.

Emergency services were called to a two-storey building on Poplar Grove, Carnegie early on Monday morning after a fire broke out at a brick block of flats.

Firefighters arrived on scene within seven minutes to find a first floor apartment fully engulfed in flames.

A man inside, aged in his 60s, jumped for his life out his window to escape the inferno.

He was taken to the Alfred Hospital to be treated for leg injuries and smoke inhalation.

Another 40 people were evacuated from the brick building safely.

A team of 26 firefighters battled the blaze for 50 minutes before it was deemed under control, with the crew keeping it from spreading to other apartments in the building.

Fire Rescue said the apartment where the fire started had been “gutted”.

Specialist fire investigators are set to attend the scene on Monday morning to determine the cause of the blaze.

Originally published as Elderly man jumps for life out window of burning apartment in Carnegie