Young woman forced to jump from two-storey balcony to escape raging house fire in Melbourne

Published on: May 14, 2025

By ANTOINETTE MILIENOS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 22:20 BST, 14 May 2025 | Updated: 23:09 BST, 14 May 2025

A woman in Melbourne’s south-east was forced to jump from a two-storey balcony to save her life, escaping a raging house fire overnight.

Emergency services rushed to a property on Forster Crescent in Bentleigh East at about 11.17pm on Wednesday following reports of a fire.

On arrival, firefighters discovered the two-storey home engulfed in flames and that five people were trapped inside.

Neighbours heard terrifying screams from inside as the blaze erupted.

All five people were evacuated from the home including a woman who jumped from the balcony on the top floor of the townhouse to escape the blaze.

The young woman, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to hospital with lower leg and hip injuries.

Another resident was also treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

The blaze was extinguished shortly after midnight, with 30 firefighters battling the flames as they initially experienced poor water supply.

About 30 firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which engulfed the townhouse (pictured)

Five people managed to escape the flames, including a woman who jumped from the balcony on the top floor of the townhouse

The fire guttered the townhouse, burning through the home’s interior and destroying its outer walls and roof.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading, which minimised the damage to the adjoining residence.

The cause of the fire is still yet to be determined but police are treating it as non-suspicious.