Blaze damages Wangaratta saddlery factory

A suspicious fire has caused more than $500,000 in damage to a factory at Wangaratta.

A passing fire crew noticed the blaze at the saddlery in Parfitt Road about 10:00pm AEDT.

The site was guarded by police overnight and detectives and Country Fire Authority (CFA) investigators will return later this morning.

Scott Hamilton from the CFA says the fire was contained to the saddle factory, but the adjoining factories suffered smoke damage.

"It was part of a complex of factories and when the firefighters discovered it at 10:10pm the saddlery place was well alight and four of the adjoining factories have suffered smoke damage," he said.

"Obviously good work from the firefighters prevented what could have been a lot more damage."