Paradise Valley Hotel Clematis: Suspicious fire at popular pub

A much-loved pub near Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs has been forced to temporarily close after a large pile of construction materials went up in flames.

There was a fire at the Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis on Sunday morning forcing the pub to close its doors this week.

A popular Dandenong Ranges pub has been forced to temporarily close after a suspicious fire caused significant damage in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Emergency services were called to the fire at the Paradise Valley Hotel on Belgrave-Gembrook Rd Clematis about 3.35am.

The Clematis CFA brigade posted that the fire was underneath the hotel, and crews found a large pile of construction materials which was well alight.

A fire caused damage to popular pub The Paradise Valley Hotel. Picture: Clematis Volunteer Fire Brigade

Firefighters at the scene. Picture: Clematis Volunteer Fire Brigade

Firefighters managed to contain the fire to the basement area with only smoke affecting the bistro.

A message on the pub’s website on Monday said the hotel was closed due to significant fire damage.

The pub will update its customers with more information later this week.

A Victoria Police spokesman said no one was inside the pub at the time of the fire and at this stage the blaze was being treated as suspicious.

An arson chemist will attend the scene on Monday.

A CFA spokesperson said seven units from Bayswater, Emerald, Clematis, Narre Warren East, Menzies and Selby responded to the blaze, with the fire underneath the hotel balcony.

The incident was deemed under control at 3.17am.