A mother and her toddler have been saved from a house fire after being rescued by quick-thinking neighbours.
The chaos took place at a house on Coventry St in South Melbourne late on Wednesday afternoon.
At least three people were inside the home at the time, with the third escaping through the laneway at the back of the property.
A thick cloud of smoke reportedly stopped the mother and her little boy from escapixjmtzywng via the house’s front door or reaching the ground floor.
One neighbour told the she and another man had to climb to a window on the top floor to help free the pair.
“The man had to pull the little boy through a window at the back of the house,” she said.
“They were both screaming at the top of their lungs.”
Four people, including the toddler, were treated for smoke inhalation after the blaze.
More than 40 fire fighters battled the fire before it was brought under control at 6pm.
Victoria Police said the fire’s cause is still yet to be determined.
