Residents in Campbellfield were terrified by explosions erupting from a car-wrecking yard, as a fire tore through the grounds early on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade crews were called to the yard in Sarah Street, Campbellfield, at 4am to fight the blaze.
An MFB spokesman said some of the cars had LPG cylinders, and exploded as the fire spread.
It took crews 90 minutes to get the fire under control, the spokesman said.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were investigating a large fire at a vacant lot in Sarah Street, which spread to the adjacent car yard.
She said the fire also caused damage to the building next door to the yard.
Commander Frank van Bakel said that the MFB issued a warning to the community to stay indoors during the blaze.
“It’s always a precaution we take, particularly with car fires,” he told radio station 3AW.
“We give that community warning to make sure they keep their windows closed.”
Mr van Bakel said the walls of the factory were scorched in the blaze.
The fire has been deemed suspicious. The police arson and explosive squad are investigating.
