Suspicious apartment blaze at South Melbourne

Fire has torn through a South Melbourne apartment building, forcing a number of residents into the street.

Thick plumes of black smoke started billowing from the Park Street apartment complex around 8pm on Wednesday.

Fire crews raced to the 24th floor of the 30-storey building and evacuated up to 40 residents.

It took the efforts of 25 firefighters to bring the flames under control.

Fortunately no one was injured, but 10 apartments were damaged.

Those residents are to be put up in accommodation.

The blaze has been traced back to a mattress, with police treating it as suspicious.