Petrol bomber hunt

By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE family was horrified after a firebomb was thrown into their house on Christmas Day while they were at home.
A mother was at home with her son and daughter when they heard a loud smash in the front bedroom at about 11.30pm.
They then saw a flash and the room burst into flames. The mother was in the rear bedroom and the son was in the lounge room at the time.
Cranbourne CFA Fire Officer Phil Charles said the fire quickly spread damaging two rooms and leaving a $30,000 repair bill.
He said the fire was contained to the front room after CFA crews arrived, two from Cranbourne and one from Hampton Park.
Senior Sergeant Bernie Kaminski from Cranbourne CIU said it appeared someone had deliberately tried to set the house on fire.
“There was a fair bit of damage,” he said. “It does appear to be an arson attack.”
All three family members were conveyed to Dandenong Hospital for observation and treatment for smoke inhalation.
Sen Sgt Kaminski said a crime scene guard watched the Strafford Avenue property that night and an arson chemist arrived the following day to inspect the scene.
Police are still investigating.
Anyone with information should contact Senior Constable Trevor Bush at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.