Noble Park fire: Firefighters working on Somers St apartment complex blaze

Fire investigators will probe into the cause of a Noble Park apartment block blaze that took more than 30 firefighters to battle the flames.

Emergency services crews battle a fire in an apartment building on Somers Street Noble Park. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

More than 30 firefighters worked to battle a blaze that ripped through a Noble Park apartment block.

Emergency services were called to the Somers St property after several reports to Triple-0 about smoke billowing from inside a ground-floor apartment about 11.35am on Sunday.

Residents from inside the apartment complex were evacuated and police blocked off the street.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said there was a “very high fuel load” inside the apartment, which made it difficult for firefighters to bring the flames under control.

Firefighters tried to control the blaze in a ground-floor apartment. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

He said the fire was brought under control by 12.45pm, and fire investigators would probe the cause of the blaze.

Greater Dandenong Council’s building surveyor was on site to assess any structural damage to the building.

Paramedics are also at the scene but it is not known whether anyone was injured in the fire.

Smoke is billowing from the apartment block in Noble Park. Picture: Erin Constable

Paul, a neighbour, said he headed outside when he heard the fire trucks.

“Then I saw the smoke — so, so much smoke,” he said.

“That’s all you can smell too. All the smoke.”

The man said he understood the fire was in a ground floor apartment.

“It is an empty apartment I think. But it is just filled with rubbish,” Paul said.

Another set of neighbours, who did not want to be named, said they returned from a walk to find their street blocked off.

More than 30 firefighters battle the Noble Park fire. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“I hope it isn’t too damaged,” they said.

“I am really worried about our things.”

“We will have to wait and see what our future looks like.”

Residents Precious and Jay-r were inside the building at the time of the fire.

Precious said they were anxiously waiting to hear about the condition of their apartment.

“I really hope everything is okay,” Precious said.

“I think it will be at least damaged by smoke.”

She said the pair heard a massive explosion and all the windows shattered in the ground-floor apartment.

“We just ran out,” Precious said.

“I looked at my husband and we ran out.”

“After the explosion it was just burning.”

She said the man who lived there wasn’t home at the time of the fire.

“Not many neighbours were home,” she said.

“Everyone came out immediately and the firefighters were here so so fast.”