AN ELDERLY woman who fled from war-torn Europe is the latest victim in a string of arson attacks in Wangaratta.
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The Burke Street resident’s home was gutted by fire early Friday morning in a suspicious blaze.
One of her neighbours, who is due in court later this month for similar attacks, has been charged with arson and conduct endangering life.
Emergency services were called to the property about 2.30am.
The woman had been woken by smoke alarms and managed to free herself from the burning building.
Firefighters said the incident could have been fatal if the woman didn’t have the smoke alarms installed.
The house is only a few doors down from a home targeted four times by an arsonist, including in a July fire.
Olive Lehrke, who lives across the road from both burnt homes, wondered where Friday's victim, aged in her 80s, would go.
The woman, who she said had emigrated from Holland during World War II, had been taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
“I’ve had plenty of sleepless nights,” Ms Lehrke said.
“I’ve been to the doctor more times in the past five weeks than I usually go in a year.
“I just can’t handle it.
“It’s too much, it’s just too much.
“You wonder whether you’re going to wake up or not.”
Detective Senior Constable Justin Schulze said a 33-year-old Burke Street resident had been charged.
He said the victim was “a bit shaken up”.
“She was taken to hospital for observations for some smoke inhalation,” he said.
“She’s been released and is in the company of relatives.
“It’s certainly concerning.
“It’s an elderly resident, she’s (been) at home in bed asleep.
“It’s lucky, I believe, there was a working smoke detector which has probably saved her life.
“It’s certainly a very serious incident and we’ll be investigating it as fully as we can.”
A police helicopter flew to Wangaratta and examined the home from the air.
Officers have been keeping a close watch on the area after the last fire on July 14, which had targeted a mother-of-two.
CFA operations officer Trevor Logan said there had been 15 to 20 firefighters on scene on Friday morning.
“The roof has been burnt out of it,” he said.
“The walls are still standing but there’s extensive fire damage.”