HILLS firefighters fought to save a Monbulk house on Friday after it went up in flames shortly after 3.45pm.
Five fire brigades including Monbulk, Olinda, Kallista, Sassafras and the Bayswater breathing apparatus van were called to a double-storey house in Redhill Road, Monbulk.
Incident controller Dave Daly of Monbulk CFA said 50-60 per cent of the house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived, but they were able to contain it before it could spread any further.
Mr Daly said the fire was contained to the lower level of the house.
He said the top level was smoke-logged but not directly affected by the fire.
Mr Daly said fire crews were able to contain the fire within 20 minutes of arriving.