Fierce flames and huge plumes of smoke were seen over the Princes Highway in the early hours of Monday morning after a pile of old truck tyres caught fire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Firefighters suspect the tyres, alongside the highway at Clayton in Melbourne's south-east, were deliberately lit about 12.50am.
The blaze occurred on an industrial lot opposite the IKEA store.
It took firefighters in breathing apparatus about an hour to gain control of the blaze using foam, and prevent it spreading to a nearby pile of rubbish.
Firefighters have notified police.
Meanwhile, a fire that has been burning at an illegal rubbish dump for more than two weeks is no longer producing smoke.
The Somerton blaze, which saw flames shoot up to 10 metres high at one point, resulted in the closure of the Hume Highway.
The Country Fire Authority said the fire was largely extinguished last week, but crews would continue to monitor hotspots.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
