A TAILEM Bend couple were left with only the clothes on their back as they fled a fire in their View Street property early this morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tailem Bend police Sergeant Kym Cocks said the two occupants were inside when the fire broke out about 8.30am.
"The wife was in bed and the husband was about to have a shower when he heard a popping noise," he said.
"He went out to check and there were flames up the side of the house.
"The male occupant, 56-years-old, had smoke inhalation and was treated by ambulance officers.
"The wife was left with only her dressing gown."
Sergeant Cocks said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.
Six Country Fire Service trucks attended the fire at the property located at the end of the cul-de-sac.
The house and at least one vehicle, a campervan, were destroyed by the blaze.
CFS worked to contain the blaze to the property and managed to stop the flames spreading to neighbouring homes which were unoccupied at the time.
Neighbours gathered along the street to watch the devastation unfolding before them, said they had not had time to get to know the couple who had only moved in to the quiet street about four months ago.
Crime scene investigators have been called to determine the cause of the fire.
Despite both fires beginning outside, Sergeant Cocks said he did not believe there was any relationship between the View Street fire and a fire which burned down a home along the Princes Highway at Tailem Bend on November 17.
""No similarity at all," he said.
"We believe the other was started by a cigarette."