More than 50 firefighters have responded to a building fire in Melbourne's CBD, which has forced neighbouring buildings to evacuate.
Crews found the two-storey building at the corner of Russell and Bourke streets "well involved" with flames spreading into the roof, about 11.15am.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus evacuated buildings on both sides for safety.
The blaze was brought under control at 11.52am and firefighters were hosed down as they exited the building.
The fire has caused a lot of smoke and the public is asked to avoid the area while emergency services conduct operations.
Nursing student Amna Raza said she was studying in a nearby building when the smell of smoke made it hard to breathe, causing her and classmates to leave go outside where there were firefighters "everywhere".
"It's scary," she told AAP.
Smoke billowing from a Melbourne building after it caught fire late this morning. Source: Twitter/karlsmith86
A restaurant occupies the ground level of the site, opposite a McDonald's and near the Bourke St intersection where crowds gathered to take photos.
People who parked cars, delivery trucks and bicycles in the vicinity have been prevented from retrieving them and told it's not clear when the road will re-open.
Traffic in the area has been affected by closures on Russell and Bourke streets.
The cause of the fire has yet to be established.
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