Firefighters say the family cat perished in Tuesday morning’s blaze on Barwon St about 4.30am but it was feared the situation could have been much worse.

Three firetrucks rushed to the scene after receiving 

initial reports a family including several children were trapped inside.

Station commander Shane Bradford told The Leader crews arrived to meet concerned neighbours who were adamant the family could still be inside.

Firefighters suited up with breathing apparatus and searched the property for any signs of life but found no one in the building.

“Once we had a bit more flame knocked down we conducted a secondary search and confirmed there was no one in the property,” he said.

It was later revealed the family had stayed at another home overnight.

Extinguishing the fire proved to be a tough job for firefighters with flames licking at the roof of an adjacent home. The Newell Highway was, as a result, closed for two hours.

“We also had an asbestos concern due to the age of the property and broken sheeting,” Station Commander Bradford said.

The incident is now in the hands of police and inquiries were still continuing into the cause of the blaze yesterday.