New Year's Eve chaos in Melbourne's city centre after an overheated air conditioner causes a highrise apartment to explode in flames

  • A blaze erupts on the 29th floors of a highrise building in Melbourne's CBD
  • The fire was caused from an air conditioner on a balcony
  • All the residents from the apartments were evacuated and are yet to return 
  • Dozens of firefighters and 12 fire trucks needed to extinguish the blaze
  • Spencer Street in central Melbourne was closed and were closed and trams were diverted  

By Martha Azzi For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:17 EST, 31 December 2015 | Updated: 02:33 EST, 31 December 2015

A fire in a highrise apartment block closed one of the main streets in Melbourne's CBD on Friday afternoon, causing chaos just before New Year's Eve celebrations got into full swing.

More than 27 firefighters were needed to battle the blaze on Spencer Street after an overheated air conditioner on a balcony caused a fire to erupt on the upper floors of the apartment building just before 2pm.

Residents were immediately evacuated and are yet to return to their homes as the building continues to be assessed.

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Black smoke billowing out of an apartment building after a blaze erupted on the top floors was captured by bystanders

Black smoke billowing out of an apartment building after a blaze erupted on the top floors was captured by bystanders

Dozens of bystanders stood below as they watched the firefighters tackle the fire on the 29th floor in the 43-storey building with 372 apartments.

This comes as Melbourne goes through scorching temperatures reaching a maximum of 39 degrees on Thursday.

The fire which left the side of the building charred in black was not deemed as suspicious by authorities. 

Trams were diverted away from the street as the fire occurred but have since returned to normal.

The apartment block which was completed in 2007 is less than 10 years old.

More than 27 firefighters and 12 fire trucks were needed to extinguish the blaze

More than 27 firefighters and 12 fire trucks were needed to extinguish the blaze

The blaze began after an air conditioner on a balcony caught fire but it has not been deemed as suspicious 

The blaze began after an air conditioner on a balcony caught fire but it has not been deemed as suspicious 

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