‘Suspicious’ arcade fire

Police tape has blocked access to the footpath outside the Centre Court Arcade on Main Street. 246100_01 Photos: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Shelby Brooks

Shop owners, tenants and passerbys all stopped at police tape on Pakenham’s Main Street and Treloar Lane Tuesday 3 August to sneak a peak at the fire damage within Centre Court Arcade.

Pakenham CIU Detective Senior Constable Osborne said one shop was “pretty much destroyed“, with the next door hairdresser suffering some damage and the opposite shop also suffering damage.

From what the Gazette could tell, the Centre Court Book Exchange appeared to suffer considerable damage, particularly to the books left outside the shop.

“As is the case with fire in a confined space, the heat broke glass and windows,“ Detective Osborne told the Gazette.

“I’d imagine the arcade will be locked up for some time pending repair.“

Detective Osborne said a worker in the main street notified emergency services after hearing an alarm go off around 4am.

“He heard an alarm which was going off in the chemist and he went to check it out when he saw the smoke,“ she said.

The fire started in the rear of the arcade, closer to the Treloar Lane end and it was extinguished by emergency services, leaving extensive damage to several shops and the ceiling of the arcade.

When asked about the claims from other news outlets which were reporting that tenants had complained about switchboard and light faults the night before, Detective Osborne brushed the suggestion off.

“We’re not looking at any type of fault,“ she said.

“The fire is being treated as suspicious.“

Detective Osborne explained that roller doors lock both sides of the arcade after hours to prevent any foot traffic from passing through.

“There wasn’t any system to it exactly,“ she said.

“Just whoever was first in for the day would unlock them and whoever last to leave close them.“

Anyone with information, or who saw any suspicious activity around the area Monday 2 August into the early hours of Tuesday 3 August is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.