Suspicious Fire at Glenroy Butcher and Grocery Under Investigation

Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a butcher and grocery in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north.

More than 25 firefighters attended the scene in Wheatsheaf Road and had to break down roller doors to access the shops.

Locals say there have been multiple suspicious fires in the area in recent years.

Police are investigating a suspicious fire in Melbourne's north in an area locals say has been targeted by arsonists multiple times.

Emergency services were called to a butcher and an adjacent grocery store in Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy, about 2.40am after reports of an explosion.

Nobody was in the store at the time of the fire, and police said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation.

Kieran Purcell from Fire Rescue Victoria said more than 25 firefighters attended the scene and took about an hour to extinguish the blaze, which caused extensive damage.

"The crews went in there and did a very good job knocking down the fire. We've had to remove a large part of the roof to stop the fire extension, which went into the ceiling space," he said.

"They've had to cut down four roller doors. They've also had to cut into the roof."

At this stage, the fire is not being investigated as part of Operation Eclipse, which is overseeing investigations into arson attacks on licensed venues.

Local resident, John, who lives nearby, said there had been multiple fires in the area in the past few years.

"That's a tally of six explosions and fires in the last three years now," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"I was woken up to an explosion and the arrival of about six fire trucks, police, and an ambulance.

"It's just disappointing, I'm actually getting immune to it."

He said several weeks ago, there was a shooting incident during which bullets were sprayed into a residential building.

"The feeling of people who live on Wheatsheaf Road is very sad and poor, the morale is very low," he said.