Melbourne fire claims three

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Scott Muller

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Melbourne fire claims three

Was not the only Indian on fire yesterday

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23001062-1702,00.html

THREE young men died in a house fire in Melbourne early today.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) spokesman Trevor Woodward said there was little firefighters could do to save the men - all from India and aged 30, 24 and 22 - as fire engulfed the weatherboard house in Footscray about 12.45am (AEDT).

"We had already heard from the callers that there were people inside and the first crews tried to get in but there was no way they could get to anyone. It was a wall of flame," Mr Woodward said.

Two men from neighbouring properties and another man from the house had tried to help them escape via the front door but were overcome by flames and heat.

The bodies of two of the men were found at the back of the house after crews had extinguished the flames.

The third victim was found a short time later in a hall.

A man, a woman and their daughter escaped the fire by breaking a bedroom window. They suffered minor cuts and abrasions.

It is believed the three dead men were overseas students.

The cause of the fire is not known but arson squad and fire investigators are investigating.

Sergeant Rod Stormonth paid tribute to the bravery of neighbours who tried to break in and save the men.

"Due to the heat and flames they were unsuccessful, but anybody...who puts their own life at risk to save somebody you don't know is very brave," he said.

"The whole thing is tragic and devastating."

Neighbour Wayne Gooch said he and his brother tried frantically to save the men.

"We can hear people running around, screaming in the house, and I woke my brother up, and he's come out and he's tried kicking the door in," he said.

"He couldn't get the door open so he's gone and smashed a window. Three of them escaped through a side window and they come running around, they've kicked the front door in, (but) they couldn't get in to get the guy in the passageway."

The incident is the third fatal fire in Melbourne in the past week.

A man died when his unit in north suburban Lalor was destroyed by fire early on New Year's Day.

Last Thursday, a man died when he could not escape a fire that broke out in the bedroom of his home in Coburg North, also in Melbourne's north.
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