Fire crews are battling an inferno that has engulfed a factory in Melbourne‘s south-east, forcing nearby roads to close and schools to keep children indoors.
The blaze was first reported about 8.30am Thursday by a worker who said lithium batteries kept at the site on Chesterfield Rd in Cheltenham had ignited.
The 3,600sq m building was well alight when crews arrived, but the blaze has been contained to the factory site.
Children at Tucker Rd Primary School a few minutes away in Bentleigh were being kept inside classrooms on Thursday morning due to concerns over the air quality.
Fire Rescue Victoria issued an alert to residents in Cheltenham, Highett, Moorabbin and Moorabbin East that the smoke cloud would be clearly visible but the fire was under control.
‘There is currently not threat to the community but people should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions,’ a spokesperson said.
More to follow.
The thick black cloud of smoke pouring over Melbourne’s skyline on Thursday from a factory fire understood to be sparked by lithium batteries
