By Alesha Capone
UPDATE: Three people have died in a suspicious Point Cook house fire, including a young child.
Emergency services were called to Totem Way to reports of a townhouse fire, which had spread to nearby residences, around 3.40am.
Arson and Explosives Squad detectives have located the body of two adults and an infant in the burned house.
The trio are yet to be formally identified.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Kennedy said that the house, and its occupants, were not known to police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kennedy said police were treating the fire as “suspicious”.
He said this was due to the intensity of the fire, which was “raging” when Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) crews arrived on the scene.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kennedy said most accidentally-lit fires were not usually that intense.
He said that some neighbours engaged in “very heroic” efforts to try to save the townhouse occupants from the fire.
He said this included one neighbour who attempted to access the house using a ladder, but that the flames were too intense for him to climb up very far.
Town other townhouses were damaged by the fire.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kennedy said thew3 two properties sustained damage to their external walls and smoke damage.
At the height of the fire, there were more than 40 firefighters on the scene, onboard eight firefighting appliances, including aerial and rescue units.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
