Overview

• Firefighters arrived just after midnight and spent nearly an hour containing flames that caused a significant structural collapse.
• The St Georges Road property was built over the past 18 months and had sold for $7 million four years ago.
• The homeowner, who was at the scene, described the devastation and said he believed the fire was deliberately set.
• No one was inside at the time and neighbouring homes were spared damage, though residents reported feeling terrified by the flashing emergency lights.
• Authorities deem this the fourth suspicious house fire in Melbourne’s affluent suburbs since November, following incidents in St Albans, Truganina, Bentleigh East, and Chadstone.