Suspicious fire in Melbourne tobacco store, trams suspended

Trams have been suspended, and a major inner-city road has closed as police investigate a suspicious fire at a tobacco store in Melbourne's east overnight.

Emergency services were called to a building on Bridge Road in Richmond about 3.30am and found the ground floor of the shop engulfed in flames.

A search of the building found no one was inside the tobacco shop at the time, but three people were evacuated from a neighbouring building.

The fire was brought under control about 4.27am, but fire crews remain on the scene.

Victoria Police say the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation and is being treated as suspicious.

Richmond resident Sam lives nearby and said he was woken by the fire about 3.30am.

"You kind of see it happening everywhere else and it hasn't happened in this particular area, it's just disappointing," he said.

"I've got three young kids, it's not something I want on the doorstep of where I live."

Sam said he especially felt for innocent people living and working nearby who were affected by the fire.

"Bridge Road, from what it once was, is already going through a bit of a downturn," Sam said.

"To see something like this happen is just horrible for the community and all the business owners and residents around here."

Yarra Trams were notified to suspend services on Wednesday morning, while Bridge Road was closed in both directions between Church Street and Lennox Street.