BY ASHLEY GEELAN
A fire is believed to have been started by lithium-ion batteries at a Cheltenham factory with firefighters quickly escalating the response to a third-alarm fire.
Around 25 fire trucks, including two ladder platforms and a teleboom, along with 70 firefighters, responded.
Incident Controller, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Barry Gray, said a fantastic effort was made by firefighters to contain the fire to the buildings of origin.
It took both Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authority crews about two and a half hours to contain the fire.
There were limitations with access to the buildings where the fire was located due to an inaccessible laneway and concerns of a partial structural collapse.
Emergency services are working together to collect aerial footage to enable a full assessment of the incident.
Early indications are the factories contained various items including solar panels and lithium-ion batteries.
Occupants of the business had already evacuated. Neighbouring premises were also evacuated as a precaution.
Surrounding businesses are likely to remain closed for the day due to the danger of smoke.
Firefighting activity will continue for some time and Chesterville Road is likely to remain closed for the rest of today after firefighters early this morning responded to a factory fire in Cheltenham.
The fire was reported at 8.38am following triple zero calls reporting that lithium-ion batteries had caught alight.
Firefighters arrived at the Chesterville Road scene within five minutes, finding a 60-metre by 60-metre factory fully alight.
A Community Advice message remains in place for Cheltenham, Highett, Moorabbin and Moorabbin East.
There is currently no threat to the community, but people should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions.
This article was updated at 1:30pm with new information.
