Homes evacuated as Melbourne hall burns

A community hall in suburban Melbourne has caught fire, with police believing it may have been deliberately lit.

Firefighters battling a suspicious blaze at a community hall in southeast Melbourne have evacuated homes in the neighbourhood.

The fire is believed to have started about 3.15am on Sunday at the building on Whatley Street in Carrum, with flying embers causing concern and prompting the evacuations.

It's believed no one was inside the building and the exact cause of the fire is yet to be established. Whatley Street is expected to be closed for several hours.