Crews contain North Melbourne apartment fire

Fire Recue Victoria (FRV) responded to multiple triple zero calls for an apartment fire in North Melbourne shortly before 5am this morning.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes to find flames issuing from the second-floor balcony of a seven-storey apartment building.

Firefighters conducted an external attack on the fire from the ground level while additional crews donned breathing apparatus and entered the building to evacuate the complex.

No injuries were reported as all occupants of the building evacuated safely.

The fire was declared under control at 05:31am, 34 minutes after FRV arrived on scene.

The fire was contained to an external balcony, with some smoke and water damage on the second and third floors.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been from a discarded cigarette butt.