Arson probe into CFA blaze

By Paul Dunlop
A FIRE at a building containing sporting equipment owned by firefighters on Tuesday morning is being treated as suspicious.
Country Fire Authority crews were called to put out a fire in John Street only to discover the burning building was a storehouse containing equipment belonging to them.
The Arson Squad is investigating the fire, which is believed to have been deliberately lit.
The fire ripped through a judge’s box and storage area.
The building, which also had a commercial kitchen and public toilets for the PB Ronald Park, was engulfed in flames when crews arrived about 3.40am.
Gear used in firemanship competitions against other brigades, as well as memorabilia from the brigade’s 77 year history, were among the items destroyed.
The damage bill has been estimated at $250,000.
Pakenham CFA captain Vince Ingram said the fire was devastating for brigade volunteers.
“It’s a big blow for us. There was a lot of equipment stored in there and it throws everything out of whack in terms of our set-up for firemanship competitions,” Mr Ingram said.
“We haven’t had a chance yet to really sit down and sort out what we’ve lost. It is very disappointing.”
More than 20 firefighters fought the flames but they were unable to save the building.
Crews were called to another fire in Bald Hill Road while they were mopping up hotspots.
Police and CFA investigators were at the scene from the early hours of the morning until well into the afternoon.
Police detective sergeant Phil Jury said both fires were being treated as suspicious.