Two massive fires in Melbourne have been deemed suspicious by police as investigations continue.
The first blaze broke out on 4 January at Kennards Self Storage in Port Melbourne, shutting down a major freeway. Emergency services were called to the out-of-control fire at 8.35pm. Social media footage showed flames ravaging the storage facility, engulfing nearby trees and creating a massive plume of black smoke above the city.
Victoria Police revealed that the fire is being treated as suspicious, urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. Fire crews from at least nine units attended the scene, with the blaze contained by 9.47pm. No injuries were reported.
In a separate incident on 5 January, a suspicious fire broke out in a two-storey building on Whitehorse Road in Nunawading, resulting in the evacuation of about 30 people from their homes. Fire Rescue Victoria dispatched nearly 100 firefighters to the scene. The fire, which started after 2am, caused significant damage, but no injuries were reported. Authorities have classified the fire as suspicious, and Whitehorse Road remains closed as of 9:45am Sunday.
Police are also investigating a grass fire that spread along the West Gate Freeway to a storage facility in Port Melbourne. The fire, which occurred shortly before 9pm on Saturday, also spread to nearby scrub and caused significant disruption. Sixteen fire trucks attended the scene, and the fire is being treated as suspicious.
Investigations into both fires are ongoing.
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