A significant fire broke out at an abandoned property in Geelong’s CBD on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a rapid response from firefighters, police and ambulance crews. The incident occurred near the corner of Yarra Street and Myers Street, with smoke seen coming from the roof and spreading across parts of the city centre. Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to the vacant property shortly before 2:30pm and quickly began working to contain the blaze.

According to local reports, firefighters had the fire under control shortly after 3pm. Fire Rescue Victoria said crews worked quickly to knock down the blaze, preventing the situation from escalating further. No person was found inside the property during the latest incident, although emergency responders faced difficult conditions because the building was vacant, boarded up and filled with debris.

The latest fire has raised further concerns because it is reportedly the fourth fire at the same abandoned property this month. Earlier incidents were reported at the address on August 10 and August 20. During the August 20 fire, a woman was reportedly rescued from the building after being found unresponsive, although she survived. Authorities have previously linked some of the fires to people staying at the property and using the fireplace.

Smoke from Wednesday’s fire was clearly visible around the Geelong CBD, attracting the attention of nearby residents, workers and pedestrians. Emergency services quickly established a presence around the site while firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

Traffic was also affected during the emergency response. One lane of Myers Street was temporarily closed between Yarra Street and Moorabool Street, while part of Yarra Street was also blocked as crews managed the incident and investigated the property.

Police are treating the latest blaze as suspicious and have begun an investigation into how the fire started. Members of the public who witnessed the incident or have relevant footage have been asked to provide information to Crime Stoppers.

The repeated fires at the property have renewed attention on the safety risks associated with abandoned buildings in central Geelong. The presence of rubbish and other hazardous material around the site could make emergency responses more challenging and increase risks for anyone entering the building.

Authorities are expected to continue examining the property and gathering information to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s fire. Residents and visitors are being urged to stay clear of emergency areas and follow directions from police and firefighters while the investigation continues.

The incident serves as another reminder of the challenges emergency services can face when dealing with vacant or unsecured buildings in busy urban areas.