Smoke billows from Melbourne rubbish fire - The Australian

RESIDENTS in Melbourne's east are being warned to stay indoors as smoke billows from a large out-of-control fire burning at a local recycling centre.

The 20-metre high blaze is burning on top of a large pile of rubbish, including car bodies and metal scraps, at the Eastern Recycling Centre on Palmerston Road West at Ringwood.

Emergency services were called to the scene by concerned motorists who saw the smoke while travelling along the EastLink motorway before 7am (AEDT) on Saturday.

A Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) spokeswoman said the fire was large, stretching about 40 metres, and was still out of control at 9.30am.

Another MFB spokesman Trevor Woodward said there were 10 trucks and 50 firefighters battling the blaze.

It was too early to determine whether the fire was suspicious, he said.

"There's a huge pile of metal waste which has come from crunched up car parts," said Mr Woodward.

"There's a deep-seated fire in this pile."

Mr Woodward said the main concern was the amount of smoke billowing over the EastLink and surrounding homes, though the smoke is not believed to be toxic.

He said a car had rolled over on the EastLink near the scene of the fire and there were concerns the driver involved had been distracted by the smoke.

"There's every chance it was either someone slowing down to look at the smoke or the fire or maybe because the smoke (distracted the driver)," he said.

An ambulance spokesman said paramedics were assessing the driver at the scene of the crash and had crews on standby at the fire should anyone experience breathing difficulties.

Residents in the areas of Mitcham, Nunawading, Ringwood East, Ringwood North, Vermont, Vermont South, Wantirna, Ringwood and Heathmont are being warned to stay inside, close doors and windows and switch off their heating and cooling systems.