Smoke alarm saved family from burning Melbourne home

A smoke alarm helped a family of four to escape from their burning Melbourne home early this morning, shortly before it was completely engulfed in flames.

The family ran outside after the alarm woke them about 3.30am, and the fire quickly spread through the Hampton home.

Fire crews arrived to find flames “through the roof” of the Mills Street home, a Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said.

“The flames were… quite high into the air by the time first crews arrived, and due to some good fire-fighting efforts by the crews we managed to stop the fire spreading to the adjoining properties.”

Neighbours were shocked by the intensity of the blaze.

“Unbelievable… it wasn’t like a house fire, it was like you’d imagine a bush fire – the flames were huge and the glow from the red flame was phenomenal,” neighbour Sean Houston said.

“The flames were above the trees… it was just massive, the flames were rocketing,” another witness said.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire.