Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad are investigating following a fire at a Port Melbourne business early this morning which left two children injured.
Police were called to the Bay Street shop about 1.30am on 19 August following reports a vehicle had crashed into the premises.
The car was then set alight inside the business, causing significant damage.
The offenders then left the scene.
Residents in a unit above the shop then called triple zero (000).
They were required to evacuate, with two small children subsequently taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and an arson chemist attended this morning to undertake further investigation, along with Arson and Explosives Squad detectives.
Emergency services were kept busy overnight with a number of suspicious fires across Melbourne, including:
• A fire at an apartment block on Clark Street, Richmond about 9.15pm on 18 August - a 37-year-old Richmond man, who was a resident of one of the units, was arrested at the scene;
• A fire at a disused retirement village on Gladesville Boulevard in Patterson Lakes about 1.20am on 19 August;
• A house fire on Larch Street, Thomastown about 3am on 19 August where luckily no one was home at the time of the blaze; and
• A fire at a tobacco store on Furlong Road, Cairnlea about 6.05am on 19 August.
At this time is it unknown if any of the fires are connected, however detectives will investigate any possible links between any of them.
No one was injured as a result of the Richmond, Patterson Lakes, Thomastown or Cairnlea fires.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incidents or with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Adam Henry, Arson and Explosives Squad:
"It is only through sheer luck that we are not investigating multiple fatalities as a result of these suspicious fires over the past 24 hours.
"To light a fire in a business with no regard for the occupants living above it is completely reckless.
"Two small children were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, however the outcomes could have been far worse.
"We have said many times before that those responsible for arson attacks such as this show zero regard for the lives or others and that it is only likely a matter of time before we see someone killed as a result.
"That time was nearly this morning and again, it's only luck that the outcome of this fire wasn't deadly."
