Thirteen squatters flee Melbourne blaze

Thirteen squatters have fled a Melbourne residence after it caught fire overnight.

Firefighters initially struggled to access the Essendon property in the early hours of Thursday because bars and boarding covered the front windows.

The squatters were safely evacuated but the fire caused extensive damage to the front room and roof, the MFB said in a statement, adding that it took 26 firefighters 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control.