More than 20 Fire Rescue Victoria firefighters responded to a fire at a Williamstown ice cream shop on Friday afternoon, with a caller reporting the blaze to Triple Zero just after 4:10pm. Crews arrived on scene within four minutes of the emergency call.
Upon arrival, crews found thick smoke issuing from the back of the store, and the fire had started at an electrical switchboard before spreading to the roof. Crews worked quickly to attack the fire, bringing it under control within half an hour of arrival.
Eight people evacuated the shop during the incident and were unharmed. Victoria Police also attended the scene.
The incident adds to a pattern of fires affecting Williamstown's ice cream businesses in recent years. A gelato shop on Nelson Place was targeted by fire in January 2024, while another ice cream premises experienced multiple firebombings in November 2023. Those earlier incidents were investigated as suspicious and potentially linked to organised criminal activity, though authorities did not initially connect all the incidents.
The cause of Friday's fire appears distinct, with the electrical switchboard fault identified as the source. For residents and business owners in the area, the incident reinforces the importance of electrical maintenance and fire safety protocols in commercial premises.