Suspicious Grass Fire Engulfs Kennards Self-Storage Facility in Port Melbourne, AustraliaSuspicious Grass Fire Engulfs Kennards Self-Storage Facility in Port Melbourne, Australia

A grass fire that spread to a Kennards Self Storage facility in Port Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday is being treated as suspicious. The blaze began around 8:35 p.m. and shut down the eastbound lanes of the Westgate Freeway. Crews managed to contain the fire at 138 Salmon St., and no injuries were reported, according to sources.

Nine firefighter teams battled the flames for more than an hour. A spokesperson for Fire Rescue Victoria said they arrived within six minutes of receiving the call.

Social media footage showed massive flames consuming the storage facility and nearby trees. A large plume of black smoke engulfed the area. The fire was declared under control by 9:47 p.m., though firefighters remained on scene to cool and ventilate the building. The cause of the incident is under investigation, sources reported.

Founded in 1973, Kennards operates approximately 100 self-storage locations throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Sources:
7 News Australia, A Suspicious Scrub Fire Has Quickly Turned Into a Full-Blown Emergency in Port Melbourne
Daily Mail, Huge Fire at Kennards Self Storage in Port Melbourne Being Treated as Suspicious by Police After it Shut Westgate Freeway