Firefighters arrived about 3am to find multiple units alight in a social housing block on Thompson Road, in the Geelong suburb of Norlane.
Neighbours described seeing “a wall of fire” as the blaze quickly spread, burning the fence and lapping at a bedroom next door.
“The first thought was is anyone in there, the next thought was how far is it going to spread,” neighbour Tam Quarry said.
“I grabbed my phone, I called the fire department – a neighbour came over to help get me and my cat out. It was just a big shock,” neighbour Tayla said.
“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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