UPDATE 5pm: A fire investigator will attend the scene of a house fire at White Hills.
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Bendigo Fire Station senior station officer Darren Eenjes said the cause of the fire was unknown, but was not believed to have been suspicious.
“It has started, we believe, in the rear of the house,” Mr Eenjes said.
The rear of the house was well alight when firefighters arrived at the Kennewell Street property.
The fire had spread into the roof space.
“We had firefighters in breathing apparatus placed into the building with hose lines to knock that fire down,” Mr Eenjes said.
“Because the fire was in the roof they had to use different techniques and thermal imaging cameras to punch up through the ceiling and stop the spread of fire through the rest of the house.”
He described the firefight as ‘extremely successful’ with respect to the property and personal possessions that had been saved.
Two rooms were destroyed by fire, as was the roof-line at the rear of the house, above the ceiling.
“It’s phenomenal work the firefighters have done under extreme conditions,” Mr Eenjes said.
He said the house was uninhabitable until it could be repaired.
The family that lives at the house has been offered accommodation by family and friends.
One occupant was home at the time of the fire.
Mr Eenjes said the person managed to get out of the house safely, as did the family’s pet dogs.
“No-one was injured. We did have ambulance attend, in the event somebody was injured or overcome by smoke, but it wasn’t required,” he said.
Powercor and the gas company were on scene to isolate their respective services until the house could be repaired.
UPDATE 4.30pm: The road has been partially reopened to traffic near the house fire.
One person was at home at the time of the fire, but firefighters said there were no injuries.
EARLIER: Emergency services are responding to a structural fire at a residential address in White Hills.
CFA, Police and Ambulance Victoria were called to Kennewell Street shortly before 3.30pm.
The street is blocked off near the scene of the incident as they respond.
Gas and electricity services have been notified to attend.