An elderly father and his son have died in a house fire in Ocean Grove, Victoria, early this morning. The blaze broke out at a two-storey fibro home on Powell Street shortly after 4:00am, completely gutting the property.
Police have confirmed the remains of a 90-year-old man and a 57-year-old man were found inside the house. Their identities have not been released, and no further details about the pair have been provided.
Neighbours described the men as well-known in the community, having lived at the property for decades. Alex McLachlan, who lives two doors away, said the son was the carer for his father, whose health had declined over the past year. 'They'd often go for walks together and have a chat. They were friendly,' he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with arson squad detectives and a chemist attending the scene. Police have not stated whether the fire is considered suspicious.
This is the second fatal house fire in Ocean Grove in six weeks. In July, a woman died in a fire on nearby Arcturus Road. The town, located on the Bellarine Peninsula about 20 kilometres south-east of Geelong, has a population of around 14,000.
