THREE people jumped from a first-floor bedroom and another 32 were evacuated when fire engulfed a Footscray flat yesterday morning.
Eight fire trucks and two helicopters were called to help contain the blaze at the Eldridge St block at 3am on Monday.
Fire fighters were required to remove part of the roof to stop the fire from spreading into the roof space.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade senior station officer Ian Munro said fire fighters were able to contain the fire, but the unit was extensively damaged.
“These people were extremely lucky to have escaped relatively unharmed, despite not having an alarm,” he said.
Two of the three men were treated for cuts to their hands and were later taken to hospital.
Mr Munro said the incident highlighted the need to check smoke alarms regularly. Only two of the 10 flats had working smoke alarms, some had alarms without batteries and some had no alarm at all.
A full investigation into the fire is expected to be carried out this week.
In line with the City of Maribyrnong Emergency Recovery Plan, the evacuated residents were taken to a reception centre until suitable accommodation arrangements could be made.
