By Brendan Rees
Firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed a three-storey unit in Cranbourne North last Thursday, 29 March.
Emergency services were called to the Paxford Drive building which was completely engulfed in flames at about 4.50am.
CFA units from Cranbourne, Dandenong, Narre Warren, and Hallam extinguished the fire which caused extensive damage to two adjoining units.
The fire was brought under control within an hour with the help of a ladder platform truck.
Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said police are treating the fire as suspicious, adding there was a fire at the same Paxford Drive address on Monday, 26 March.
“Police will investigate the cause of both fires however they are currently treating the blazes as suspicious,” she said.
There were reports that the fire may have been linked to the death of a woman at a property on Collison Road in Cranbourne East on 23 March, however Ms Johnson confirmed this suspicion had been ruled out by police.
CFA Operations Officer Paul Summons said an investigation would be conducted into the cause.
“It looks like it was done potentially on purpose. The crews found a jerry can out the front of the fire that we believe may be linked.”
He said police safely evacuated about 30 residents from the block of six adjoining units.
“One unit was fully engulfed in fire with damaged sustained to one of the neighbouring properties. It was a good save by crews in the end through a challenging fire,” he said.
A neighbour, who was able to flee her house with her partner, described the incident as “pretty scary.”
Kim Cavanagh said she woke up to smoke alarms going off in her three-storey unit, which was damaged in the fire.
“The neighbours were banging on the garage,” she said.“I was down on the bottom floor. I just ran straight out of the house. I didn’t really see any smoke or anything.”
She said her partner, Matthew Finnigan, got a garden hose before going back up to the second floor. “Then he said ‘No get out the lounge room’s on fire.’”
The couple escaped the blaze unscathed thanks to the efforts of firefighters. “We were really lucky,” she said.
She said the fire crews were able to move all of her belongings away from the fire including sentimental photos of her brother who died two years ago. “It was fantastic, they did a great job.”
“There is a bit of damage. We can’t live there anymore.”
“I’m going to get rid of most of the furniture just because it smelled really bad of smoke,” she said.
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour or suspicious vehicles in the area prior to the fire.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
