POLICE will investigate the cause of a fire in Chapel St that threw the popular South Yarra retail strip into chaos.
Shoppers fled the scene after the blaze began in a first-floor office about 3.15pm, setting off explosions and shattering windows.
It quickly spread to up to six neighbouring businesses and sent up a plume of smoke.
Police blocked off the street between Toorak and Commercial roads, creating traffic chaos.
About 50 firefighters put out the blaze.
The fire tore through several upper storey shops along Chapel St. Picture: hugh_sheridan/Instagram/Twitter
The arson squad will continue with its investigation but police could not confirm if the blaze was being deemed suspicious.
Two people suffered minor injuries battling the blaze. One was treated for a sprained ankle while another suffered minor steam burns.
Power was reportedly cut to the entire affected strip during the emergency, as bystanders quickly took to social media to post pictures of the scene.
Andrew Steele was holding a business meeting in Mode Apartments below when smoke started pouring into the room.
Bystanders near the scene of the fire along Chapel St, South Yarra. Picture: Nathalie J. Berger/Twitter
"The smoke came pouring in then the fire started breaking out at the back of the shop,'' he said.
"There were massive explosions and we just ran out.
"Glass was shattering and going on our heads, people were yelling at us to get out of there."
Marcus Peters, who works for Biggin Scott, said: "The flames were really red and there was glass everywhere."
Smoke rises above the popular Chapel St shopping district. Picture: Twitter/@SimonWakahang
Around six properties were affected by the fire, according to witnesses.
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There had been concerns of a roof collapse, but there have been no reports of injuries.
- with Mark Buttler
How bystanders saw the emergency on social media:
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