Shoppers at Riverside Plaza on the Goulburn Valley Hwy in Kialla were evacuated at about 4.45pm on Tuesday, October 10.
Firefighters from Shepparton attended in response to an alarm being set off at the shopping centre.
Investigations revealed that an alarm was set off after a fire hose was accidentally knocked from a wall in the Kings 4WD Supa Centre Store, which is being fitted out and due to open later this month.
The Coles supermarket was among the plaza stores impacted by the evacuation.