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In the early hours of the morning, around 3 a.m., firefighters rushed to a scene of chaos on Thompson Road, nestled in the Geelong suburb of Norlane. A social housing block had become engulfed in flames, with several units already alight by the time emergency services arrived.
Witnesses recounted the terrifying sight of what they described as a “wall of fire,” which swept through the area with alarming speed. The inferno not only consumed parts of the building but also ignited a nearby fence and threatened to invade a neighboring bedroom.
For Tam Quarry, a local resident, the immediate concern was the safety of anyone potentially trapped inside the burning structure. “The first thought was is anyone in there, the next thought was how far is it going to spread,” Quarry shared, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Another neighbor, Tayla, recounted her own harrowing experience as she witnessed the blaze. “I grabbed my phone, I called the fire department – a neighbor came over to help get me and my cat out. It was just a big shock,” she explained, still processing the night’s events. “I’ve never had to witness anything like that in my life.”
“I’ve never had to witness anything like that in my life.”
A woman was pulled from the unit where it started, but was unable to be revived.
She is yet to be formally identified, but it’s believed she did not usually live in the complex.
“It’s just terrible that someone had to lose their life,” neighbour Taravali said.
Investigators remained at the scene all day and arrested two men, aged 35 and 38, nearby.
The fire completely gutted the home where the blaze began, and multiple neighbouring units sustained extensive smoke and water damage.
Residents will now need to find another place to live while the owner decides what to do next.
“It’s got to be upsetting for the people next door – not just the house, but the units joined to it too,” neighbour Kyle Johnson said.
Detectives from the arson squad seized a number of items including a mobile phone.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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