St Kilda: Iconic palm trees damaged by fire along seaside promenade in Melbourne
Palm trees along a popular waterfront and marina have gone up in flames in what police said was likely arson.
Dozens of onlookers watched in horror as four decades-old palm trees along Marine Parade in St Kilda in Melbourne’s south-east were flooded shortly after 7pm on Sunday.
Shocking footage shared by locals online showed the towering inferno spiraling out of control in one of the trees near a skate park near the promenade.
Thick plumes of smoke emerged from the fire that erupted from one tree, while multiple fires were lit at the bottom of several others.
Palm trees along St Kilda’s waterfront went up in flames on Sunday evening
Thick plumes of smoke emerged from the fire that erupted from one tree, while multiple fires were lit at the bottom of several others.
Fire brigade and police arrived on the scene within minutes after several triple-0 calls.
The fire brigade managed to extinguish the flames within twenty minutes.
One tree was destroyed, while three others were slightly damaged.
The intensity of the flames attracted a large crowd of spectators.
“Everyone was kind of interested in it, but then realized it was actually very close to the marina where all the boats are, which could have been bad,” a local resident told the Herald Sun.
A fire quickly engulfed one tree (pictured) as shocked onlookers watched as emergency services rushed to the scene
A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the fires are believed to have been deliberately set and detectives are investigating the incident.
No one was injured
Marine Parade is a major port in Victoria where boats worth thousands of dollars dock.
No boats were damaged.
The area’s palm trees were built several decades ago, with the oldest tree planted in 1930.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The palm trees on Marine Parade (photo) were built several decades ago, with the oldest tree planted in 1930