Emergency services were pushed overnight with more than four structures involved in fire in a 2 hour period with all being suspicious in nature.
Just before midnight a house being renovated in Broome Street was well alight when CFA crews arrived onscene. Wonthaggi and Inverloch brigades were battling this fire when a neighbour from down the road notified members of another fire on a front porch of an occupied house.
Crews were quickly deployed to this one and managed to save the building from further damage. Lieutenant Jamie Moresco from Wonthaggi fire brigade said “We have been cautious of most fires as there appears to have been a spate of suspect fires in the area of late.”
Additional fire crews were called into the area from as far away as Phillip Island and San Remo when firefighters noticed another fire in Merrin Street that involved a shed. Not long after that a garage, car and motorbike were destroyed in Reed Crescent.
Police soon arrived from Wonthaggi, Inverloch and San Remo and began inquiries into the cause of all the fires. Fortunately no one was injured in the run of calls but extensive damage has resulted from these deliberate acts.
CFA District 8 Operations Officer Cliff O’Connor said “Deliberately lit fire calls take volunteer firefighters away from workplaces, families and potentially genuine emergencies. It also means our critical resources are being deployed unnecessarily.”
Police currently have investigators sifting through the damage in search of evidence from these calls.
Author: CFA Media