Probe over gangland house fire in Vic

Police won't dismiss potential gangland links to a fire which has destroyed the former home of late Melbourne underworld figure Des "Tuppence" Moran.

Two people were captured on CCTV before the blaze in Ascot Vale on Wednesday night and mattresses were found piled up and set alight in the stairwell of the vacant two-storey brick home, fire officials said.

"I haven't seen the footage but people who have seen it said there were two people out the front of the premises just before the fire," Metropolitan Fire Brigade western district Commander Guy McCrorie told AAP.

The house will have to be demolished, with the whole property destroyed bar the kitchen.

"It's been unoccupied for a considerable amount of time," he said.

"Neighbours have said they have seen an occupant bringing out the rubbish bins every week.

"But there was no evidence of anyone living there we could see."

Victoria Police's arson squad has taken over the investigation and forensic chemists were at the home on Thursday.

Senior Sergeant Brad Towers said police are yet to determine the fire was deliberately lit.

He also couldn't confirm whether one or two people were seen running past the house, or if they were connected to the blaze.

Investigators would consider everything, Sen Sgt Towers said.

"Obviously, because of the former resident, it's been thrown up that it may have gangland links," he told reporters.

"But we have no knowledge of that whatsoever.

"We're not discounting anything at this point in time."

Police have been door knocking neighbours to see if anyone heard or saw anything.

Moran was shot dead in a cafe in 2009 in one of the notorious Underbelly gang wars and his sister-in-law, Judy Moran, is in prison for the murder.

His home, which had been in the family for at least two generations, was sold at auction at the end of 2011 for about $1.1 million.

A rumour of millions being stashed somewhere on the property had persisted for years.

The developer who bought it at the time was aiming to get approval to build a block of flats.

It sits across the road from Melbourne showgrounds and Flemington race course, and is covered by the suburb's heritage overlay.

The first attempt on Des Moran's life happened in the driveway of the home in 2009.