Firefighters had to remove part of the second floor roof of a wing at the rear of motel to tackle flames in the space between the roof and ceiling.

The fire was reported about 4pm. Crews from four Warrnambool trucks used thermal imaging, breathing apparatus and air monitoring equipment, accessing the scene from Lava Street. 

Warrnambool fire station officer in charge Henry Barton said the fire was believed to have started in a flue in the laundry area.

Mr Barton said the motel owners and workers extinguished the fire in the flue but it had spread into the ceiling space.

Workmen had been working in the laundry before the fire but its cause was yet to be determined, he said. 

A section of Lava Street was                                                                                                               closed while firefighters were at work.

Emergency services remained at the scene until well after dark to clean up and make the damage roofing waterproof.