22yo man killed in prison cell fire

A man has died following a fire at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Melbourne's west. Picture: Supplied
A man has died following a fire at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Melbourne's west. Picture: Supplied

An investigation is under way into the death of a man at a prison in Melbourne's west overnight after a fire broke out in one of the cells.

Police were told the 22-year-old was found unconscious shortly before 9pm after a fire at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall.

Despite attempts by paramedics to revive the man, he died at the scene.

Victoria Police said Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit detectives had attended the prison and the investigation was ongoing.

A man has died following a fire at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Melbourne's west. Picture: Supplied
A man has died following a fire at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Melbourne's west. Picture: Supplied

Located about 20km from Melbourne's CBD, the prison opened in 2006 and is a maximum-security remand facility.

The majority of its inmates are in holding awaiting outcomes to their court cases, waiting to be sentenced or awaiting appeals.

A riot at the centre in 2015 became the state’s largest ever after 400 prisoners attacked guards the day before a statewide smoking ban.