CFA crews have warned of the dangers of playing with matches after fire destroyed a Cranbourne home less than a month before Christmas.
The blaze engulfed the Darcy Court house just before 5.30pm on Monday.
Four young children and a woman in her 70s managed to escape before CFA crews from Cranbourne, Hallam and Frankston arrived.
The woman was taken by ambulance to the Mornington Peninsula Public Hospital suffering smoke inhalation.
A CFA spokeswoman said the house was completely alight when units arrived.
“Crews had a little difficulty getting in to the house because of closed aluminium shutters covering the windows but the occupants of the house managed to escape without injury,” she said.
It took about 25 minutes to control the blaze, which is believed to have been started by kids playing with matches.
“This is a timely reminder for parents and carers that matches should be kept well out of the reach of children,” the spokeswoman said.