Three adults, four children flee suspicious Melbourne house fire

Seven people have escaped a suspected arson attack at a home in Melbourne's north, police say. Emergency services were called to North Circular Road in Gladstone Park about 4:20am this morning following reports of a property engulfed in flames. "Three adults and four children were able to self-evacuate and were lucky to escape injury," police said. Officers said they found a jerry can at the scene and were told that loud bangs had been heard just before the blaze took hold. A crime scene has been set up around the property, and an arson chemist will attend along with detectives. "Police will investigate whether the fire is linked to any other recent incidents," police said. Officers are also investigating a suspicious fire in nearby Airport West that started shortly before 10pm on Sunday night. A unit police say was unoccupied was destroyed by fire, while a neighbouring unit was smoke-damaged. Fire crews were also called to a fire at a double-storey unit in O'Connor Street, Reservoir, shortly before midnight. FRV said the cause of the fire is unknown, but it appears to have started in the garage and spread to the house.