A mechanic’s workshop next to a bikie clubhouse has been destroyed by fire in Melbourne.
The auto shop went up in flames in the early hours on Monday, with the fire so damaging firefighters were not able to go inside the building.
At Heidelberg West in Melbourne’s northeast, the mechanic’s shop is next door to a clubhouse belonging to the Iron Horsemen outlaw motorcycle club.
The blaze was reported about 2am on Monday.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said the building was too dangerous for firefighters to go into as 34 firefighters tried to get the blaze under control.
“The cause of the fire has been deemed suspicious and will be investigated by Victoria
Police,” the spokesperson said.
The bikie club promotes its social events online, and NewsWire has contacted the club for comment.
Police say officers out on patrol spotted the fire, and no one was inside at the time.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be established and the investigation is ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.”
After getting the call at 2.07am, firefighters deemed the blaze under control at 3.54am.
Images from the scene show the shop has been gutted and cars destroyed.
There is a scorched sedan parked just outside the front door, and three windows on the front of the business have been smashed.
The building roof has partially collapsed, and daylight floods in through what was the roof on Monday morning.
Amid the blackened carnage, another vehicle was parked just inside the garage door that had also been destroyed. The vehicle’s tyres had melted and the make and model indiscernible when viewed from the footpath.
At least four other car shells sit burnt out in the back of the shop.
Viewed from behind the police tape, the Iron Horsemen signage next door stands in stark contrast to the melted La Trobe Collision Centre.
