Man charged over Melbourne strip club fire

A man has been charged over an explosion and fire that gutted a Melbourne strip club.

The 31-year-old from Berwick was arrested on Wednesday morning and has been charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire, and one count of reckless conduct endangering life, handling stolen goods, and possessing a prohibited weapon.

He faced an out-of-sessions hearing at Melbourne West Police Station on Wednesday night, and has been remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Anti-bikie operation Taskforce Echo believes a breakaway gang of bikie thugs was behind the explosion, which destroyed the strip club called Kittens, in Caulfield South, on Tuesday.