A build-up of grease in the exhaust flue has caused a restaurant kitchen fire in Melbourne's CBD which sparked evacuations and road closures.
More than 50 firefighters rushed to the blaze late on Monday morning in the two-storey building at the corner of Russell and Bourke streets.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus evacuated buildings on both sides.
"A number of workers were inside the building at the time it caught fire. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries," the Metropolitan Fire Brigade reported.
The blaze was brought under control before midday and firefighters were hosed down as they exited the building.
"The fire on Russell St was caused by a build-up of grease in the exhaust flue, and (the force is) urging (the) community to regularly clean and maintain the whole flue, not just the filter," a MFB tweet reads.
Footage from the scene showed flames burning into a kitchen ventilation shaft.
The fire caused a lot of smoke.
Nursing student Amna Raza said she was studying in a nearby building when the smell of smoke made it hard to breathe, causing her and classmates to leave go outside where there were firefighters "everywhere".
"It's scary," she told AAP.
A restaurant occupies the ground level of the site, opposite a McDonald's and near the Bourke St intersection where crowds gathered to take photos.
Traffic on Russell and Bourke streets was impacted.
Australian Associated Press
