Footscray shop fire: Two people arrested near the Nicholson St scene for unrelated matters

Shocked onlookers have watched as police arrested two men for unrelated matters near a suspicious shop fire in Footscray.

Two men have been arrested for unrelated matters after police swooped while attending a suspicious shop fire in Footscray.

Emergency services were called to Nicholson St after neighbours were woken by flames coming from Footscray Halal Meats located on the ground level of a mixed-used residential building with commercial shops at 3.43am Monday.

While they were still at the scene of the fire later on Monday morning, police were called into action after a man allegedly tried to steal a car.

About 10am, just metres up from Nicholson St, police stopped a man who was allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle before placing him under arrest.

Witnesses told tHerald Sun they saw police sprinting towards a white ute after officers saw the door of the vehicle open before removing him from the car.

A second man was being treated by paramedics at the scene before he was taken to hospital accompanied by police.

A staff member of a neighbouring shop said that police were outside the butcher investigating the fire when a man approached them and became aggressive towards them.

He then allegedly escalated his behaviour before he was arrested.

About the same time, police saw a man allegedly attempting to steal a business vehicle of a nearby butcher – not the same business subject to the fire – before intercepting the man and arresting him.

Police at the scene. Picture: Nilsson Jones

One man was arrested and another taken to hospital under police supervision following a suspicious building fire in Footscray.

Police confirmed two men were arrested at the scene in relation to other matters.

It comes as 30 firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control in Footscray, as police investigate the suspicious shop fire.

Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Darren Brown said about 30 firefighters arrived on the scene and found the back of the building on fire on the second level.

“Firefighters wore breathing apparatus fought the fire with the help of two aerial firefighting trucks. They worked hard to bring the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to the adjoining properties,” he said.

Two people have escaped uninjured after a shop fire in Footscray overnight that needed 30 firefighters to bring under control. Photo: Nilsson Jones

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said two people inside the property at the time of the fire managed to escape without injury.

“The fire caused significant damage to the residence above the shop when it caught alight just before 3.30am,” she said.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said no emergency treatment or transport was required.

A crime scene has been set up while emergency services investigate the fire.