Police investigate Montague fire

Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives continue to appeal to witnesses following a fire at a factory in the Montague Precinct of South Melbourne on May 5.

Police along with other emergency services were called to the Ferrars St factory around midnight following reports the single-story structure was well alight.

Officers cordoned off the factory and managed traffic in the vicinity of the fire.

The scene of the fire was the premises of Tuck’s Industrial Packings & Seals at 120 Ferrars St. The roof collapsed and it took more than 40 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.

The building is located directly across the road from South Melbourne Primary School in Southbank and the school was temporarily forced into closure on May 6 while fire crews attended the scene.

A crime scene guard was placed on the property overnight and an arson chemist and detectives also visited the scene.

The fire is still being treated as suspicious.

Investigators are appealing to anyone in the area at the time of the fire or anyone with dashcam who may have been driving near Buckhurst or Ferrars streets to come forward.

Traffic diversions in the vicinity of the fire remained in place for most of the day on May 6.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers •