A person has died and another man has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after fire ripped through a unit above a strip of shops in Sunshine West.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in a residence above a dry cleaning business on Glengala Road on Tuesday afternoon and police established a crime scene after a body was located.

A person has died and another taken to hospital with minor injuries after a fire in a building above a dry cleaners at Glengala Rd in Sunshine West.Credit:Penny Stephens

Arson investigators could be seen combing the scene for clues on Tuesday evening, while police officers spoke to witnesses.

The fire is believed to have started on the floor above the dry cleaners about 4.20pm and spread to the floor below.

One of the owners of the business, who did not want to provide her name, said she was inside the building when she heard a loud bang and smoke started billowing from the floor above.

Neighbour Agatha Yiakoumi said she arrived at the street about 4.40pm to find several firefighting crews working to put out the fire. Yiakoumi said dark smoke was coming out the windows of the second floor.

“By the time I came the fire was out, and then I heard there was someone in there,” she said.

Firefighters at the scene of the fire on Tuesday evening.Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola

“There were about seven trucks.”

The ceiling inside the dry cleaners appeared to have partially collapsed following the fire. Items including an overturned tub of clothes and a shattered ceramic bowl littered the sidewalk.

Neighbours told The Age two people were believed to have been staying in the unit, but the owner of the business would not confirm whether anyone had been living above.

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