Fire erupts at Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple in Melbourne, Springvale South

Firefighters are desperately battling a massive blaze that has engulfed a Buddhist temple and threatens to spread further.

Around three dozen fire trucks with 150 firefighters were called to the Bright Moon Buddhist Society Temple in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Springvale South after fire broke out at around 8pm on Sunday.

In social media posts spectators could be heard gasping ‘oh my god’ as the inferno raged with flames shooting high in the air and a thick smoke billowing from the scene of devastation.

The Bright Moon Buddhist Society Temple in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Springvale South has been engulfed by fire

Much of the Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple’s main building already appears to have been gutted. 

Fire Rescue Victoria has issued a Watch and Act warning for the surrounding areas of Dingley Village, Keysborough, Noble Park and Springvale South.

Residents in those areas are advised to stay inside and close all exterior doors and windows, turn off heating and cooling systems and avoid the area where the fire is while monitoring the situation.

Authorities also pleaded for locals to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. 

Springvale Road has been closed at Springvale South.

Smoke from the fire at the two-storey temple has been spotted as far as 15 kilometres away.

A local resident has speculated that the blaze, which broke out at around 8pm on Sunday, may have been caused by a Chinese New Year celebration candle or firework

The temple is a well known landmark in the southeast and used by many thousands of Buddhist adherents from all over Melbourne.

A resident of a townhouse that backs onto the temple, Joanne Tran, told the Herald Sun she believed the temple was celebrating Lunar New Year at the time the fire broke out.

‘They usually have firecrackers and candles, the whole works, maybe something caught on fire from that,’ she said.