Family escapes house fire

A FAMILY of four has escaped unharmed from a fire in their Melbourne home.

Family members were woken about 12.50am (AEST) today by the smoke alarm after a fire broke out in their single-storey house in Seston Street, Reservoir, in Melbourne's north, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) said.

"The single storey brick and concrete dwelling was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived," a MFB spokesman said.

"Firefighters attempted to rescue one of the family dogs but unfortunately they were unsuccessful," he said.

The MFB said 15 firefighters took about half an hour to bring the fire under control.

The house, contents and a car were destroyed in the blaze.

The fire appeared to have started in a faulty wood heater, the spokesman said.

The final cost of the damage was still being assessed, and MFB crews would remain on the scene throughout the morning.