The hunt is on for arsonists wanted over the deaths of two people who were sleeping in a Melbourne factory that caught fire after a nearby business was set alight.
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The blaze started at a panel shop in what police believe was a targeted arson attack and quickly spread to the Sunshine North factory at 4am on Friday.
The two people died at the scene and have not yet been formally identified, although Victoria Police Inspector Chris Murray confirmed they had no connection to the panel shop.
"We're keeping an open mind but this is a tragedy," he told reporters on Friday.
"We've got two innocent individuals who have been caught up with what would appear (to be) an arson attack."
Inspector Murray said two unknown offenders in a white Ford Ranger arrived at the panel shop about 3.50am, spread accelerant and set the shop on fire.
He said police have not established a motive for the attack and are still working to understand why two people were sleeping in the nearby factory.
"All we know is they were certainly sleeping there," he said.
"In terms of whether they were squatting or otherwise, we don't know at this stage. Again, we're very early into the investigation."
Victoria Police said the blaze is not believed to be linked to any other recent fires or Operation Lunar, a probe into Victoria's illicit tobacco trade and a violent conflict between crime groups over profits.
The single-level factory was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived and it took three hours for about 50 firefighters to get the blaze under control, a Fire Rescue Victoria spokeswoman said.
Anyone with information about the blaze or those involved have been asked to come forward.
Crews also responded to a factory fire at Malcolm Place at Campbellfield in Melbourne's north on Friday morning.
Australian Associated Press
