We are signing over now to our coverage from Tammy Mills on the scene at Footscray where the Little Saigon fire is expected to continue to burn for some time.
Residents are reminded to stay indoors, close windows and turn off airconditioning units due to the smoke.
Melbourne Express will be back on deck tomorrow morning. Check in then.
Smoke billowing from the Little Saigon fire in Footscray. Photo: Brendan Lee
The Les Twentyman Foundation is hoping Victorians will help replace the Christmas gifts and books destroyed in the blaze at Little Saigon market.
The books and gifts were stored in the building upstairs and were due to go to disadvantaged children.
All donations can be made via the Les Twentyman www.ltfoundation.com.au.
Les Twentyman at the fire where thousands of books and toys have gone up in smoke. Photo: Tammy Mills
In an alert from Emergency Management Victoria says the area around Little Saigon market, including shops and adjoining roads, are closed.
The following roads are still closed: Nicholson Street, Ryan Street, Leeds Street, Donald Street and Byron Street.
Emergency services expect to remain at the scene for most of the morning.
he fire at Little Saigon market in Footscray is not yet under control but is contained to the Nicholson Street building.
MFB acting chief fire officer Martin Braid has told Channel 9 there are 19 MFB appliances at the scene including a specialist crew to assess the impact of the smoke on the community.
Crews are fighting the fire externally until the structure can be made secure.
Nine Reporter @maddieslattery spoke to the assistant chief fire officer in relation to the fire in Footscray. #9News https://t.co/mSn54Vttic
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) December 12, 2016
A MFB statement about the Little Saigon fire says the fire is not yet under control.
The MFB currently has three ladder platforms, two ultra-large pumpers, 12 pumpers and other appliances on scene.
It says the building has many tenants.
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The lane on the Monash at Burke Road might finally be open but now there is debris near Toorak Road.
MONASH FWY - Speed limit reduced to 40km/h inbound at Toorak Rd due to debris on the road. Take care through the area #victraffic
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) December 12, 2016
The Monash Freeway lane has reopened.
Monash Fwy (M1), Glen Iris - All Lanes Now Open. #victraffic
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) December 12, 2016
Channel 10 has some footage of the flames at Footscray filmed by a construction worker.
A construction worker filmed the #Footscray supermarket fire. Crews still working to put it out @tennewsmelb pic.twitter.com/NzUUrxob3j
— Joe Hill (@Joehillten) December 12, 2016
Recapping what we know about the Little Saigon market fire.
About 75 firefighters are battling a blaze at a market known as Little Saigon in Nicholson Street in Footscray this morning.
The fire is continuing and firefighters cannot get inside due to the risk of structural collapse.
The alert was raised at 6.05am when store packers discovered flames coming from a cool room. It is believed that the fire started in the refrigeration room above the cool room and has taken hold.
Along with fish, vegetables and supermarket goods, the building also housed donations of school books and Christmas toys for the Les Twentyman Foundation.
Firefighters fight the Little Saigon fire in Footscray this morning. Photo: Pat Scala
Commuters are still struggling to get into work today. The Craigieburn, Sunbury and Upfield lines have delays of up to 15 mins due an earlier faulty train.
Back to topOur photographer Pat Scala is also on the scene at the Little Saigon fire in Footscray. Here's what he can see.
Dousing the blaze, firefighters at Little Saigon market in Footscray. Photo: Pat Scala.
Cranes at the Little Saigon fire at Footscray. Photo: Pat Scala
The word is that the MCG will host Brazil and Argentina in June next year, while the Socceroos may also take on one of the South American soccer giants in Australia soon after.
Argentina and Brazil are reportedly coming to play at the 'G. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
That looks like an easy way to avoid the Christmas light tangle - put up a Christmas tree projection instead.
Christmas lights projections on the NAB building at Docklands. Photo: Daniel Pockett
Express reader Jess Grierson says that after waiting for about 10 minutes on a Craigieburn line train, commuters have been "kicked off the train at Kensington due to a dodgy door" .
As she says "Happy Tuesday!"
Kicked off at Kensington. Photo: Jess Grierson
The second left lane is closed inbound on the Monash Freeway near Burke Road due to a collision.
MONASH FWY - Second left lane closed inbound near Burke Rd, due to a collision. Delays building quickly #victraffic
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) December 12, 2016
From the train, the Footscray fire is making the local environment hazy.
Central Footscray looking (and smelling) very smokey after a large fire engulfed Little Saigon supermarket. #Footscray pic.twitter.com/F14FXPRYtI
— BT (@Br_Tr) December 12, 2016
The Little Saigon building is 80 x 100 metres and a two storey complex
"It is going to take a while for the traders to get over this, it is a busy time of year," Mr Braid said.
The fire is expected to continue for the next few hours because the structural damage has made it too dangerous to enter the building to tackle the blaze.
Mr Braid said residents nearby should turn off air conditioners.
Tammy Mill is at a press conference with MFB assistant chief fire officer Martin Braid.
The alarm was raised at 6.05am when workers packing the stores for the days' trading discovered flames in a cool room area.
By the time firefighters arrived they found flames and smoke inside the building and the fire was "well develeoped in the cool room area."
She reports there are 75 firefighters on scene but they cannot get inside the building because it is feared the building may collapse. The fire has taken hold of the building.
The cause is not known yet, but the fire started in refrigeration equipment above the cool room, Mr Braid said.
"At this stage we are just treating the fire as a fire," he said.
He said an investigation would begin once they could get inside.
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