Police will investigate a suspicious factory fire that shrouded parts of inner Melbourne in smoke and caused traffic chaos during peak hour.
Dozens of firefighters and an aerial unit were called to the blaze on Clarendon Street in Southbank just after 4pm on Thursday.
It took crews about an hour to contain the blaze, which engulfed two small factories near Haig Street.
Emergency services were on Thursday evening advising residents and motorists to avoid the area, with Clarendon Street closed in both directions and trams diverted.
There were no reports of people inside the building but Fire Rescue Victoria crews will do a thorough search when it's safe to do so.
An advice message remains in place for surrounding suburbs, with residents told smoke will be visible in the area for some time.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined but police confirmed they are treating the blaze as suspicious.
