Building set ablaze in 'suspicious' early morning fire

They arrived to find massive plumes of smoke coming from the blaze which had spread to an adjoining store.

About 25 to 30 people in nearby residences were evacuated and no one was injured, police said.

More than 95 firefighters and 26 trucks were deployed to fight the flames.

"The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be determined but at this stage it is being treated as suspicious," a police spokeswoman said.

A community advice alert has been issued for nearby communities, urging people to close windows and doors and turn off heating and cooling systems to avoid smoke entering their homes.

Whitehorse road remains blocked off in both directions.