A man desperately tried to rescue an elderly neighbour who's died in a fire that engulfed his Melbourne home.
A body was found inside Bundoora the home by firefighters who battled the blaze early on Monday morning.
Police believe it is the body of an elderly man who lived alone at the home on Gordon Street but they are waiting on formal identification.
It's understood the fire likely started in the kitchen, where the most damage was done.
Neighbours alerted authorities about 7.30am when they saw the home engulfed in flames and billowing smoke.
Neighbour Ramen Pannu said one man tried desperately to help the elderly owners by banging on the front door but the fire was too intense to go inside.
"The flames were six to seven metres high. It was intense," Mr Pannu told reporters at the scene.
Mr Pannu was woken by a "big scream" and went outside to see what was causing the commotion.
"All the neighbours were hanging around, trying to call emergency services. It was a bad scene," he said. "It's very sad."
He said there were half a dozen fire trucks in the quiet residential street.
Acting Senior Sergeant Glen Weaver said there was nothing to suggest the fire was suspicious but crews are still working to determine the cause I the blaze.
Arson and explosives investigators are at the scene.
It took 26 firefighters about 20 minutes to extinguish the fire, which ravaged the back half of the red-brick home.
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