- Published:
- Thursday 30 January 2025 at 8:46 am
Update: Friday 31 January 2025 10.50am
It has been determined that the fire involved lithium-iron phosphate batteries, a type of lithium-ion battery.
Update at 2:37pm
The fire was deemed Under Control at 2.32pm.
Keys Road is expected to be opened shortly.
A section of Chesterville Road will remain closed.
Firefighting appliances will remain on scene overnight.
Update at 12:08pm
The fire has involved two adjoining factories of the same business, about 70m x 80m with significant fire, flames, smoke and damage, to the walls and roof.
Once FRV was on scene, the response was immediately escalated to a third alarm.
Around 25 fire trucks - including two ladder platforms and a teleboom - along with 70 firefighters, responded to the incident at its peak.
FRV Incident Controller Assistant Chief Fire Officer Barry Gray said a fantastic effort was made by firefighters to contain the fire to the buildings of origin.
It took FRV and CFA crews about two and a half hours to contain the fire, and as of 11.30am it was not yet deemed Under Control.
There were some initial limitations with access to the buildings where the fire was located, due to an inaccessible laneway and concerns of a partial structural collapse.
FRV’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (drones) team was on scene, assisted by Victoria Police.
Emergency services are working together to collect aerial footage to enable a full assessment of the incident.
Early indications are the factories contained various items including solar panels and lithium-ion batteries.
Occupants of the business had already evacuated, and neighbouring premises were also evacuated as a precaution.
Surrounding businesses are likely to remain closed for the day due to danger of smoke, depending on proximity.
Firefighting activity will continue for some time and Chesterville Road is likely to remain closed for the rest of the business day.
Thursday 30 January 2025 at 8:46am
FRV crews are responding to a factory fire in Cheltenham.
The fire was reported at 8.38am, with a caller to Triple Zero (000) reporting that lithium-ion batteries had caught alight.
Crews arrived at the Chesterville Road scene within five minutes, finding a 60-metre by 60-metre factory well alight.
Firefighters immediately escalating the response.
A Community Advice messaged has been issued for Cheltenham, Highett, Moorabbin and Moorabbin East.
Updated