By Craig Butt
More than 60 firefighters have contained a fire at a factory in Melbourne's north that startled nearby residents, with loud bangs heard coming from the site.
The fire at the Campbellfield address started about 4.30am on Sunday, Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement.
On social media, residents in the nearby area reported hearing explosions.
The blaze has since been contained by fire crews and has been brought under control.
Smoke from the fire has been billowing into the air and is being blown towards nearby homes by winds to the south-west.
Craigieburn resident Kaz Abdulrahman said the crackling sounds and explosions caused by the fire were enough to wake most of the area, followed by almost 45 minutes of continuous sirens as fire trucks rushed to the scene of the blaze.
"I woke up about four-thirty and it sounded like something was going off," he said.
"It was a phenomenal amount of smoke, I've never seen anything give off that much smoke," he said.
Mr Adbulrahman said the smoke was odourless.
He said about 95 per cent of his street was woken by the explosions and walked outside their homes to find the source of the noise until the fire died down after about an hour or so.
An advice warning has been issued for the suburbs of Campbellfield, Coolaroo, Dallas and Somerton, urging residents to avoid the area surrounding the fire.
Up to 60 firefighters are battling a huge factory fire in Melbourne's north, which is sending plumes of smoke into surrounding communities.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Residents who are sensitive to smoke are being urged to remain indoors, close windows and doors, and turn off their heating. Anyone having trouble breathing should call triple zero.
Sydney Road has been closed in both directions at National Boulevard in Campbellfield because of the fire, VicRoads has reported.