Police have praised the bravery of a girl who saved her brother's life during an early morning fire in Melbourne's north-east, while the children were home alone.
The girl, believed to be 11 or 12, woke just before 5:30am to find the rear of their Heidelberg Heights unit was ablaze.
Sergeant Matt Bull said she tried to put out the fire herself before waking her brother and taking him to a neighbouring unit to seek help.
"She's been a really good, brave kid," Sergeant Bull said.
"She's not only saved her brother's life but herself as well. She could have just left the unit on her own but she's gone back into the house to get him out, so she's done a great job."
Paramedics assessed the pair but said neither child needed treatment.
"The children were very lucky actually," paramedic Marcus Stacey said.
"They showed no signs of any effects of the smoke at all."
Fifteen neighbours from the unit block were also checked for signs of smoke inhalation.
"Everyone's safe and sound and no-one will be transported to hospital," Mr Stacey said.
The fire caused some damage to the home and a MFB fire investigator is looking into how it started.
Police are also speaking to the children's parents about why they were home alone.
