A MAN and his elderly mother escaped from their burning Sunshine North home last Thursday, after a fire thought to be caused by a malfunctioning air-conditioner.
Police said the man, aged 49, was awakened by noises coming from the roof of his Walsh St residence at around 5.20am.
Upon getting out of bed to investigate the sounds, the man discovered an air-conditioning unit in the lounge-room had caught on fire.
The man was able to wake his 79-year-old mother and the pair escaped from the burning home.
Police and Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) crews from Sunshine, St Albans and Deer Park attended the scene.
The blaze was brought under control in around 45 minutes.
Although the mother and son were unharmed by the fire, their home’s roof and lounge room were “extensively damaged” by the flames.
The MFB investigated the blaze and concluded it was started by the air-conditioning unit.
Meanwhile, a separate fire which occurred in Brimbank early last week is being investigated by the Arson Squad.
The MFB was called to a block containing two homes in Vincent Ave, St Albans at around 10.10pm on Monday 4 March.
Police said the block was home to an older-style house, which appeared to be abandoned, and a double-storey premises.
Police said the older-style house was on fire, but the MFB were able to contain the blaze, so that the double-storey home remained undamaged.
The older style home was “damaged extensively” during the inferno.
An MFB spokesperson said the fire “appeared to have been deliberately lit.”
Police said a vehicle was heard leaving the area “a short time” before the fire and they would like to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle in the location. Contact Crime Stoppers on 18000 333 000.
