A man has been found dead after a house fire in the Geelong suburb of Armstrong Creek early on Saturday morning, the ABC reports.
Police said emergency services were called to Southwinds Road about 3.10am and found the house fully engulfed in flames. The man found dead at the scene is yet to be formally identified.
Ambulance Victoria said Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance and Advanced Life Support paramedics also attended, 9News reports. Police are investigating, and the cause of the blaze is yet to be determined, Bay 93.9 reports.
The rapidly growing area still has no fire station, despite the government vowing in 2018 to build one as quickly as possible, according to the ABC.
That promise followed the death of a disabled woman in a fire in Armstrong Creek on Boxing Day in 2017. A leaked emergency recording from that incident, obtained by the ABC's 7.30 program early the following year, showed a professional backup crew was not called until 15 minutes after the initial alert.
"We are working quickly to find a location for the station and this is an absolute priority for me," then Emergency Services Minister James Merlino told the Geelong Advertiser in mid-2018. "It is unacceptable to see a growing community not as protected as it should be."
Since then, the government bought land for the station and later sold it. A fire truck now sits behind temporary fencing near the land first bought for the station, and the United Firefighters Union said a series of delays had seen the project repeatedly pushed back.
Speaking in Armstrong Creek on Saturday, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the area was "another one of those examples where we've seen a commitment before an election from the Labor government and failure to deliver".
"We have committed to delivering a new combined fire station and ambulance station to Armstrong Creek," Ms Wilson said. She said the Coalition would get it done in its first four years of government if it wins the November 28 election. The ABC said the Victorian government had been contacted for comment.
Anyone who witnessed the fire in Southwinds Road or has dash-cam footage or other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
