A baby’s body has been found in the ashes of a property in Melbourne’s southwest, bringing the death toll to three in a fire police are treating as suspicious.
The Point Cook townhouse was destroyed and two others were damaged in the Tuesday morning blaze.
After confirming two people had perished in the fire, police later said the body of an infant had also been found in what was left of the three-bedroom, two-storey home.
All three victims are yet to be formally identified, although officers believe the two adults were a couple.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Kennedy said a neighbour made a “heroic and brave effort” to rescue the occupants with a ladder but was overwhelmed by the intensity of the flames.
“Sadly they did their best but the fire took its toll and nothing could be done,” Sen Sgt Kennedy told reporters.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but it is being treated as suspicious.
Arson chemists are examining the property and the investigation remains ongoing.
“It certainly is being treated as suspicious, predominantly because of the intensity of the fire,” Sen Sgt Kennedy said.
“When fire services first got here it was fully engulfed.
“The townhouse was raging, particularly at the front and upstairs … (and) with accidental fires that doesn’t normally occur.”
-with AAP
