<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A father-of-two and his pet dog have been killed in a devastating house fire on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="_blank" title="Victoria's"><span>Victoria's</span></a><span> Bellarine Peninsula.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Les Crampton, his partner Wendy and their beloved pet pug were asleep when they were awoken by the sound of a fire alarm and the smell of smoke.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is understood the couple initially escaped the flames but the 69-year-old became trapped after he went back inside the Ocean Grove home.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-private-island-photos-released-by-us-democrats/8d16588d-2e86-4ea9-94e0-0437fe1d8fe4" target="_blank"><strong><span>Disturbing unseen images of Epstein's private island lair revealed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Crews pulled Crampton out, but he couldn't be saved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple's pug also perished in the blaze.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Crampton is being remembered as a well-respected member of the community who enjoyed flying as a hobby.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ocean-grove-father-of-two-and-dog-killed-in-house-fire/3d42cf69-c266-4706-9c1a-3176505b8802" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was a wonderful man and it's a terrible tragedy that's happened, and he'll always be thought of with very fond memories," his friend Christie Houston told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He loved racing cars and flying. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He had a very altruistic company, where he was trying to help the environment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tight-knit Ocean Grove community is now in mourning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jacinta-allan-victoria-1000-public-service-jobs-to-go-in-huge-budget-cuts/3aed8f6d-4a57-4006-a356-9334d91e4047" target="_blank"><strong><span>1000 jobs slashed in $4 billion public service bloodbath</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Neighbours said Crampton and his partner would often organise Christmas drinks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Investigators and arson chemists have spent hours sifting through the home today to establish the source of the blaze.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The family believes the fire, which began in an office at the back of the home, may have been sparked by an electrical fault.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>