A Melbourne service station attendant has been dragged to safety after an alleged fire bug set his shop on fire.
Police allege a man entered the Liberty service station on Victoria Parade in Fitzroy about 11.30pm on Tuesday and started lighting paper and flammable liquids in the store.
“The attendant managed to call police but as he was doing so the man advanced on him and a scuffle ensued,” Senior Constable Adam West said.
“Officers arrived quickly and noticed the premises on fire.
“As they approached the store, the men inside were forced out by an explosion.”
Senior Constable West said the police officers managed to get the pair to safety and arrested a 20-year-old man at the scene.
He has been taken to hospital under police guard.
Police said no one was seriously injured during the incident.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said the single storey showroom was heavily engulfed by fire when crews arrived.
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control while also isolating the power to the fuel pumps before the fire could spread.
Extracted from The Australian