Chelsea fires under investigation while police search to find a connection as the cause remains unknown

Police are investigating the cause of three fires that broke out a across two Melbourne suburbs overnight, with police suspecting they are linked.

Significant damage at the Bonbeach Baseball Club after the overnight fire. Picture: Chelsea SES Unit.

Three fires across two Bayside suburbs are being investigated with a baseball club, a public toilet and a playground all torched overnight.

Emergency services attended three fires in Chelsea and Chelsea Heights in the early hours of February 1, after multiple calls to 000.

Firefighters arrived at the Bonbeach Baseball Club rooms at 1.27am, finding the front of the building engulfed in flames.

It was a busy night for firefighters on February 1 as they fought three blazes across Melbourne’s Bayside suburbs. Picture: Chelsea SES Unit.

Crews had the fire under control within 10 minutes, before being called to a second blaze.

An FRV spokesperson said crews then went to Beazley Reserve in Chelsea Heights after public toilets were set on fire, with flames spreading to a neighbouring playground.

Both fires at the Beazley Reserve were under control by 1.49am.

A third blaze was then reported in the garden of a Chelsea Heights property on Thames Parade around 4.50am

All three fires were within a 1km radius of each other.

The fire damaged playground in Chelsea. Picture: Chelsea SES Unit.

A spokesperson from Victoria Police said the Moorabbin Crime Investigations Unit were looking into the fires.

“Investigations are ongoing into the exact circumstances of the fires,” they said.

“Police believe they are linked at this stage.”

There were no injuries at any of the three incidents.

A residential property was also involved in the suspicious fires, with a blaze lit in the front garden of a Thames Parade home. Picture: Chelsea SES Unit.

Kingston City Council Mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said news of the fires was “disappointing and frustrating”.

“Fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities as a result of this completely reckless, thoughtless and dangerous behaviour,” she said.

“Unfortunately the Blue Jays and broader community will be impacted for an extended period of time.”

Ms Davey-Burns said council officers had been onsite early on Thursday morning to assess the damage.

“We know how loved the park and playground are by locals and visitors alike, and the baseball club are a great group who are certainly feeling sad today,” she said.

“A big thanks to the fireys for their great work to limit the damage and our other emergency services for their professional response too.”

The council is assisting investigators to find the cause of the fires and the culprits.

Ms Davey-Burns urged anyone with information to contact police, and said the council will provide updates on the status of the playground and clubhouse once a full assessment had been completed.

Witnesses or anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam footage of any incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an online report here.