Fire at Melbourne Islamic Centre

Fifty firefighters have fought a massive blaze at a Melbourne Islamic Community Centre for nearly an hour before managing to bring it under control.

Early on Sunday morning several fire crews responded to a large fire at the centre on Lowson Street in Fawkner and required an aerial hose to extinguish the blaze.

During the fire asbestos was found in the building and firefighters had to be decontaminated as the emerged from the fighting the flames.

The cause of the fire was unknown, with investigations to begin at first light.