By Derek Schlennstedt
Firefighters are battling a house fire near a busy shopping district in Ferntree Gully.
CFA crews were first called to the blaze in The Avenue, Ferntree Gully at about 10.40am.
According to CFA media, by the time CFA crews arrived the house was fully involved.
Eleven CFA units were called to assist in controlling the blaze.
According to reports from onlookers the fire could be seen from Burwood Highway.
“I just drove past it, huge flames and the sound of big bangs and cracking,” commented Rosie on the Facebook Group ‘ Ferntree Gully Noticeboard’.
A spokesperson from CFA media said that the house was vacant and is believed to have been vacant for the past few weeks.The fire was down graded to under control at 11:40am.
CFA are investigating the cause of the fire.