‘Messed up’: Another suspicious fire at Coxon Pde public housing complex, detectives investigating

Another suspicious fire has caused significant damage at a North Geelong public housing complex, with the Saturday morning blaze forcing two occupants to flee.

Police are investigating a fire that engulfed a public housing unit on Coxon Pde in North Geelong.

Two people were forced to flee after a fire took hold inside a North Geelong unit in the early hours of Saturday.

Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to the Coxon Pde blaze around 4.30am, arriving to find the two-storey residence fully alight.

The blaze was brought under control within minutes, an FRV spokeswoman said.

A 47-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were inside at the time and forced to evacuate.

A car in a neighbouring driveway was damaged.

Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating, with an arson chemist expected to attend on Saturday.

“No one was injured, however the property sustained significant damages,” a police spokeswoman said.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the blaze are yet to be determined, however police are treating the fire as suspicious.”

Paramedics attended but no emergency treatment or transport was required.

A single police vehicle was monitoring the scene at 8.45am.

Police remained on the scene hours after the blaze.

A neighbour who was inspecting the site on Saturday morning said he did not know the occupants.

“Wow, that’s pretty messed up,” he said of the damage.

All upstairs windows were broken and the carport appeared to have bore the brunt of the blaze.

A silver Daewoo hatchback in the neighbouring driveway was also damaged.

In October, a 63-year-old man was arrested after a fire at the same public housing complex.

On that occasion, at least 20 firefighters battled the blaze wearing breathing apparatuses.

Originally published as ‘Messed up’: Another suspicious fire at Coxon Pde public housing complex, detectives investigating