Brunswick fire: Lygon St part closed after abandoned supermarket blaze

A FORMER supermarket in Brunswick East has been destroyed after a blaze ripped through the building early this morning, cancelling trams along Lygon St during the morning peak.

PARTS of an abandoned supermarket have collapsed after an intense fire ripped through the Brunswick East building early this morning.

A neighbouring trader said he had been told the building was set to be demolished later this week.

Tim Cohen, co-licensee of the East Brunswick Wine Store next door, said a rear access door to the supermarket had been left unsecured and he had noticed used needles in the street nearby.

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“I’ve got kids around the place and there are needles out the back, it’s very frustrating,” he said.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a coincidence it was going to be demolished in a few days.”

Mr Cohen’s store sustained minor damage from the blaze. He said it would be closed for repairs for a few days.

Route 1 and 6 trams were affected earlier today, but Yarra Trams says services resumed shortly before 8.30am.

Firefighters at the scene this morning. Picture: David Crosling

More than 50 firefighters were sent to battle the blaze, which started after 3.30am, and crews were attacking the blaze with aerial appliances and hose lines.

MFB northern district operation commander Andrew Dixon said the fire was fully developed by the time crews arrived and the roof had collapsed.

He said the blaze threatened to spread to neighbouring buildings but firefighters contained it to the supermarket.

Fire at abandoned supermarket, Brunswick East. Picture: Josh Fagan

Part of Lygon St remains closed. Picture: David Crosling

There were 14 fire trucks at the scene and 55 firefighters who took about half an hour to bring it under control.

It was unclear yet how the fire started or whether it was suspicious, he said.

He said the initial suspicions were there may be squatters in the building but there was no one inside.

Fire investigators will assess the scene this morning.

West Footscray fire treated as suspicious

Police are also investigating a fire in Melbourne’s west which left a man in his 50s injured.

Maribyrnong Crime Investigation Unit detectives have launched a probe following the fire in West Footscray this morning.

Emergency services were alerted by a neighbour who noticed the fire in a Broad St flat at 5.30am.

“A man in his 50s was pulled from the flat and conveyed to hospital with burn injuries,” a police spokeswoman said.

“The flat was extensively damaged in the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.”

An arson chemist will examine the flat later this morning to work out the exact cause of the fire.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.