Up in smoke: more than $300,000 damage at elderly couple’s Melbourne home

An elderly woman had to be rescued from the backyard of her Melbourne home after a fire broke out in the garage.

The couple in their 80s noticed a problem with their electrical supply and discovered that a fire had started in the garage of their Beaumaris home.

The fire spread through the ground floor of the building and into the first floor of the two storey building.

The property was severely damaged by the fire and the damage bill is estimated at over $300,000.

In the process of trying to escape, the elderly woman became trapped in the back yard and was rescued by firefighters.

The couple were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.

Fire investigators are trying to establish the cause of the blaze.