A two-storey tobacconist in Mentone, Melbourne’s south-east, was completely engulfed in flames late Friday night, forcing residents in nearby apartments to evacuate as the fire threatened to spread. Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed that 35 firefighters battled the blaze for more than 90 minutes before bringing it under control, with parts of the building collapsing during the operation.
Commander Steve Morgan said crews had to assist residents escaping through the back of the building as the fire rapidly spread into the roof space. “It was well and truly engulfed by the time we got there. Crews did a fantastic job to pull it up before it actually spread next door and caused any more damage,” he said.
Witnesses described the terrifying scene. David, a resident across the road, recalled hearing a loud bang before seeing the tobacconist roof consumed by flames: “Within five minutes it was up in flames.” Another woman said her building shook when the fire erupted, comparing the sound to a bomb blast.
Local businesses were also affected. Sarah Bellman, who works at the neighbouring hairdressing salon, said she was shocked by the scale of the damage. Her salon lost power and will miss a day’s trade while the site is secured and cleaned. “It was much worse than what I had anticipated. We’ve got no power so can’t see our appointment book. We’re still trying to contact clients remotely,” she explained.
Fire crews remained at the scene into Saturday morning, monitoring for flare-ups within the destroyed shop. Police have declared the site a crime scene, with early reports suggesting the fire may have been deliberately lit after a vehicle was driven into the store.
Authorities are urging anyone with footage or information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via .
The incident has left the Mentone community shaken, with residents and business owners expressing fear and frustration at the growing number of arson attacks targeting tobacco shops across Victoria.
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