- Port Phillips prison in lockdown and staff evacuated after huge fire broke out
- Maximum-security prison is the largest jail in Victoria and holds 1,000 prisoners
- Over 50 firefighters worked to control the blaze, which broke out in control room
- Police said the fire was not deemed to be suspicious
A maximum-security prison is in lockdown and staff have been evacuated after a huge fire ripped through the facility.
Up to 25 staff were evacuated from Port Phillip Prison, the largest jail in Victoria, after a blaze broke out in the control room.
Fire crews spotted smoke and flames from a distance and called for additional help including an aerial appliance.
Over fifty firefighters worked for two-and-a-half hours to control the blaze, which started at about 1.30am on Wednesday and continued till daylight.
Port Phillip maximum-security prison (pictured) is in lockdown and staff have been evacuated after a huge fire ripped through the facility
Port Phillip Prison is widely considered to be one of Australia’s toughest jails
Firefighters are still at the prison dealing with the aftermath of the fire.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were not treating the fire as suspicious.
Port Phillip Prison is widely considered to be one of Australia’s toughest jails, able to accommodate over 1,000 prisoners and housing a number of notorious criminals.
Mass murderer Julian Knight, who shot dead 7 people and injured 19 more in 1987, is currently serving out seven concurrent life sentences at the prison.
Jason Roberts, one of two men responsible for gunning down two police officers who were staking out a Chinese restaurant in Moorabbin in 1998, is also serving out a life sentence at the prison.
Fire crews spotted smoke and flames from a distance and called for additional help including an aerial appliance (firefighters seen on site)