Police are investigating a house fire in Coburg, which firefighters say was "suspicious".
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At about 5.30am, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was called to a single storey weatherboard house to find it ablaze.
Firefighters had to douse flames that threatened neighbouring houses on both sides. Neither house caught fire.
MFB Commander Will Glenn said the fire was difficult to bring under control.
"It was a very intensive fire," Commander Glenn said.
"Firefighters had to work hard to contain it. The undergrowth around the property made it difficult to access the house."
Commander Glenn said the property was vacant and is believed to have been abandoned for 12 months.