St Kilda: Iconic palm trees damaged by fire along seaside promenade in Melbourne

Palm trees along a popular seaside foreshore and marina have burst into flames in what police believe was a suspected arson attack.

Dozens of onlookers watched on in horror as four palm trees that were decades-old located along Marine Parade in St Kilda in Melbourne's south-east became engulfed shortly after 7pm on Sunday. 

Shocking footage shared online by locals showed the towering inferno burning out of control on one of the trees located near a skate park near the promenade. 

Thick plumes of smoke emanated from the blaze which erupted from one tree which was destroyed while several others were damaged.

Palm trees located along St Kilda's foreshore burst into flames on Sunday night

Fire crews and police rushed to the scene within minutes after multiple triple-0 calls.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames within 20 minutes. 

The intensity of the flames attracted a large crowd of onlookers. 

'The flames were really big and it drew a crowd,' a local told the Herald Sun. 

'Everyone was kind of interested in it but then realised it was actually very close to the marina, where all the boats are, which could have been bad,' 

A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that the fires were believed to be deliberately lit.

Detectives have launched an investigation into the blaze.

A blaze quickly engulfed one tree (pictured) as horrified onlookers watched on

No one was injured.

Marine Parade is a major port in Victoria where boats worth thousands of dollars are docked. 

No boats were damaged. 

The palm trees situated in the area were built several decades ago with the oldest tree planted in 1930. 

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.  

The palm trees along Marine Parade (pictured) are decades-old with the oldest planted in 1930