Firefighters have battled an enormous suspicious inferno at a shopping strip in Melbourne’s west after a grocer was set alight.
Emergency services were called to the grocery store on Ballarat Rd in Deer Park about 1.35am on Friday.
Fire Response Victoria firefighters were on the scene in about four minutes and discovered the single-fronted shop engulfed in flames.
Thankfully, no one was inside the business at the time of the fire.
“FRV crews wearing breathing apparatus established hose lines and attacked the blaze, containing it to the shop of origin and preventing any further fire spread to adjoining businesses,” a spokesman said.
“The shop of origin sustained significant damage and five surrounding businesses sustained smoke damage.”
The fire was deemed under control a little under an hour later at 2.21am.
While no one was inside the grocery store at the time of the fire, a witness had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Police said a group of offenders broke into the grocery store minutes before 1.35am before fleeing the scene in a utility.
Next door to the grocery store is a tobacco shop, which was recently shut as part of the Victorian government’s crackdown on illegal tobacco traders.
A sign notifying the business of the store’s temporary closure was pasted outside the tobacco shop, with a large cross scribbled over the top.
“F**k off” was written in black marker underneath the neon green sign, which had been torn at the bottom edges.
The grocery store fire is being treated as suspicious.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.