Homicide squad detectives have arrested a man after a person died following a house fire at a St Kilda home.
Fire crews were called to the blaze on Chapel Street, next to St Kilda Police Station, about 8.40pm on Wednesday after locals reported flames coming from the home.
A man has died in a house fire on Chapel St, St Kilda.Credit: Nine
Crews arrived at the scene within four minutes to find a fire on the building’s ground floor. Firefighters donned breathing gear to fight the blaze, bringing it under control within six minutes.
Inside, they found a critically injured man. The man received treatment but died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.
“The incident was deemed suspicious, and the scene was handed to Victoria Police,” the Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said.
The building is home to a law firm and two private units.Credit: Penny Stephens
Homicide squad detectives raided a property at St Kilda on Thursday afternoon, and arrested a 30-year-old man over the incident. Police said they would interview the man, and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
Lawyer Elisa Rothschild has operated a family law practice out of the lower level of the building since 2019.
She said her sister informed her of the blaze in her building in a late-night call.
“A friend called her and said, ‘your sister’s office is on fire’ so she called me and let me know,” Rothschild said.
“I was extremely shocked, and I saw pictures on the news and I realised I couldn’t get anywhere near the place.
“I came first thing this morning, and the police said it was still a crime scene and I couldn’t go into my office.”
“I’ve just been texting all my staff not to come in today.”
A crime scene has been set up on Chapel St.Credit: Madelaine Burke
Rothschild said squatters had used the units in the building since 2023, which the owner was currently trying to resolve through the Supreme Court.
“The squatters are just moving in at an alarming rate, and there’s nothing really that can be done because it is very difficult to evict squatters in Victoria,” she said.
“I even hear them ... while I’m working ... arguing about which room they are going to get,” she said. “It’s very, very frightening.”
A crime scene was established and an arson chemist assessed the scene.
Emergency services treated the man but he died at the scene.Credit: NINE
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