Firefighters were called to Alkera Road just after 4.30am this morning, with neighbours reporting loud pops and bangs coming from the burning vehicle.

Ballarat City Fire Brigade's senior station officer Shane Phillips told The Courier when fight trucks arrived the engine and passenger cab of the four-door Ford ute was completely alight. No injuries were reported.

Police officers from Ballarat's Crime Scene Services unit are now at the scene collecting evidence from the ute. Leading Senior Constable Jeff Whittaker confirmed the ute was stolen, and he said police are treating the fire as suspicious.