Two young kittens were miraculously saved from a house fire in Sebastopol on Tuesday afternoon which destroyed a shed and left a man with minor injuries.
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Emergency services were called to the blaze on the corner of Miller Street and Albion Street at 1.30pm which had started in the shed at the rear of the property.
Neighbours spoke of hearing an explosion from the shed before seeing smoke begin to rise.
The section of Albion Street between Walker and Vickers streets were blocked off for almost an hour while a large crowd of onlookers gathered.
A man was treated by paramedics for minor injuries before being taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital.
Country Fire Authority Lieutenant Allan Jubber said while it was primarily the shed which was damaged by the blaze, the back of the house was also fire affected.
“The back of the property has suffered some flame damage but the extent of that we're not really sure of at this point,” Lieutenant Jubber said.
He said while firefighters were keen to get the blaze under control as quickly as possible given the home’s proximity to neighbouring houses, particular care was also given to the pets which were inside at the time of the fire.
“The kittens had suffered quite a bit of smoke inhalation, the Ballarat City (CFA) guys had administered oxygen to them when we bought them out and they're back with the owners.”
EARLIER
2.23PM: The fire has just been listed as ‘under control’ by the CFA.
The shed has been destroyed and there is also damage to the house and a caravan.
One witness, who gave his first name as ‘Ray’, said he heard a loud bang before there was smoke billowing out of the shed.
2PM: Fire crews are currently battling a shed fire in Sebastopol.
Sections of Albion Street have been blocked off and a large crowd has gathered as onlookers.
The fire was first reported about 1.30pm.
It is believed a male is being treated by ambulance for burns to his arms and hands.
The appears to be significant damage to the shed, where the fire started.
There is also a severely damaged caravan.
It is not yet known what started the fire, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
More to come.
