Firefighters were on scene at a well-known Greek restaurant in Yarraville this morning following a suspicious shop fire.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) firefighters were called to Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar in Anderson Street, Yarraville restaurant shortly before 4.30am after multiple Triple Zero (000) calls.
They arrived to find a car offenders had allegedly driven a car into the back of the shop and set the vehicle alight. With the car on fire, flames quickly spread to the building.
The offenders fled the scene in a second getaway vehicle.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the burning structure and knocked down the fire, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring businesses.
FRV Commander Callum Donoghue said the fire was prevented from spreading into neighbouring buildings.
“There’s been significant damage to one part of the restaurant, the lower floor of the restaurant, and the access has also been compromised as well,” he told ABC Radio (3LO) Melbourne.
“The neighbours were evacuated on [the] scene for a short amount of time before being located back into their premises. The smoke damage and water damage was all contained to the building of origin,” Commander Callum Donoghue said.
A municipal building surveyor will attend to assess the extent of structural damage to the building today.
The fire has been deemed suspicious. Victoria Police will investigate.
It’s the second time the restaurant has been subjected to a suspected arson attack in less than a year, after Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar reopened last November after a suspicious fire that severely damaged the venue in June 2024.
– With ABC Radio Melbourne (3LO).
